Statement of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission on Its Establishment and Its Current Status of Functioning

On 16 March 2012, the Speaker of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, based on the opinion of the Joint Bill Committee that the establishment of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) is not consistent with the Constitution and existing laws […]

Cynical Manipulation of Legal System Prefigures Continued Authoritarianism

Two cases in Burma’s courts that recently have attracted some public attention reveal aspects of a legal system being cynically manipulated, aspects that afford strong guarantees for the continuation of authoritarian practices and mentalities […]

Hluttaw Refuses Human Rights Body Budget

THE Pyidaungsu Hluttaw has refused to approve the government’s budget proposal for the National Human Rights Commission on the grounds its formation did not conform to the constitution […]

Rights Violations ‘Still Occurring’

Government troops have murdered, tortured and raped villagers since fighting broke out against Kachin rebels in the northeast of the country last year, causing around 75,000 civilians to flee their homes, Human Rights Watch says.

In an 83-page report published this week, the New York-based rights group said government soldiers have gunned down civilians, burned villages, raped women, and forced children as young as 14 to work as porters on the front lines.

“We have gathered evidence of violations and send it to the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, but we have had no reply yet” […]

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 […]

Burma Army Moves in to Enforce Eviction Order at Myitsone

On March 17 five Burma army trucks and various government vehicles entered Tanghpre village at the Irrawaddy Myitsone dam site in an apparent attempt to enforce an eviction order and intimidate people to move out from the village […]

FM Marty Receives Myanmar Human Rights Delegation

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty M. Natalegawa received Chief of Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHCR) U Win Mra and Chief of Myanmar Women and Children Affairs Committee (WCAC) Mya Oo at his office here on Monday.

The first-ever visit by chiefs of the two Myanmar institutes in Indonesia for a week was intended to follow up the two visits by the Indonesian foreign minister to Myanmar in October and December last year […]

Human Rights Workshop Kicks Off

Workshop on Human Rights Subject for Government Staff and Commission Officials was held in Inya Lake Hotel today, with the sponsorship of Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) in cooperation with of Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI) of University of Lund of Sweden.

The workshop was attended by members of Myanmar National Human Rights Commission […]

Investors’ Haste to Build Big Dams is Undermining Fragile Peace Process in Karen State

The push by investors to proceed with large dams in Karen areas of Burma is threatening to undermine ongoing ceasefire negotiations between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Burmese government.

Increased Burma Army security around dam sites and blatant disregard for concerns of impacted communities are heightening tensions, and throwing into doubt the government’s sincerity in conducting ceasefire talks […]

Report on the Use of Rape as a Weapon of War in Burma

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, the Burma support groups Info Birmanie (France) and the Swedish Burma Committee (Sweden) release a report on the Use of Rape as a Weapon of War in Burma […]