Czech Supports UN War Crimes Inquiry on Burma

The Czech Republic has become the third country to back the recommendation made by UN human rights Special Rapporteur on Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana, that the UN Security Council examine setting up a Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma […]

ASEAN leaders should act over Myanmar’s appalling rights record

Myanmar’s appalling human rights record is a serious breach of the ASEAN charter and should be at the top of the agenda for Southeast Asian states attending the organization’s summit in Ha Noi on 8 April, Amnesty International said today […]

Over 100 ASEAN Legislators Petition for Tough Action on Myanmar’s Regime

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) has today communicated a message from lawmakers in the ASEAN region to ASEAN leaders attending the 16th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam to urgently take tough action on Myanmar’s military regime should its negotiations and engagement to obtain a clear and tangible commitment for a free and fair elections in the country fails.

105 Members of Parliament from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Cambodia, and Singapore endorsed a petition urging discussion and robust action on the issue of Myanmar.[…]

Week 4: 2010 Elections Watch (30 March-5 April)

Developments

• Two members of the SPDC Election Commission are on the EU blacklist: 1) Deputy Supreme Court Judge Thein Soe, who serves as the Elections Commission Chairman; and 2) Supreme Court Judge Tin Aung Aye. On 31 March, the Election Commission held its fourth meeting in Naypyidaw. State-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported on the meeting but did not disclose details on what the Commission discussed. […]
April 7, 2010  •  By Altsean-Burma  •  Tags: 2010 Elections, Altsean-Burma  •  Read more ➤

Activists Chide Asean Human Rights Body Over Failure to Establish Working Guidelines

Human rights activists on Sunday criticized last week’s inaugural meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ human rights body in Jakarta for failing to produce a draft of organizational procedures that would determine its operations — and whether the commission would have any real clout […]

Monthly Chronology Events March 2010

An extensive monthly chronology of events researched and distributed by the Network for Democracy and Development (NDD), a Burmese political organization based on the Thai-Burma border.

These chronologies include information on the activities of the SPDC and USDA, opposition groups, armed ethnic groups, cease-fire groups, international governments and non-governmental organizations, and civilians inside Burma and along its borders.[…]

Weekly Political Events Regarding the SPDC’s Election (010-2010)

The Network for Democracy and Development (NDD), a Burmese political organization based on the Thai-Burma border, is researching and distributing weekly reports summarizing political events in Burma regarding the SPDC’s Elections. These reports include information on the activities of the SPDC and USDA, opposition groups, armed ethnic groups, cease-fire groups, border guard forces, international governments and non-governmental organizations, and civilians inside Burma.[…]

Dam Debate Looms Large over Mekong Summit

By Rachel O’Brien

Leaders of Southeast Asian nations straddling the shrinking lower Mekong River are set to lean on China at landmark talks as controversy builds over the cause of the waterway’s lowest levels in decades.

Beijing’s Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao will join the premiers of Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam in the Thai resort town of Hua Hin to discuss management of the vast river, on which more than 60 million people depend […]

No justice from ASEAN for massacre victims

It looks like the relatives of the Maguindanao massacre victims will not be able to obtain justice just yet from the newly established human rights agency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), through Dr. Anish Roy of the ASEAN Secretariat, informed human rights advocates that it could not yet handle the complaints filed by the families of the Maguindanao massacre victims, as well as those filed by victims from Indonesia andBurma (Myanmar). […]

Week 3: 2010 Elections Watch (23-29 March)

Developments The NLD announced it would not register as a political party to contest the upcoming elections. NLD spokesman Nyan Win said the party decided not to register because the SPDC election laws were “unfair and unjust.” Burma’s Supreme Court refused to accept the NLD’s legal challenge to the SPDC election laws saying it did […]