Why the Special Rapporteur is Needed as Much as Ever

An open letter from 47 Myanmar civil society organisations to member states of the UN Human Rights Council calling on the council to maintain a resolution on the human rights situation in Myanmar. We, a diverse range of civil society organizations from Myanmar, are writing to you in advance of the upcoming 25th regular session […]

Norway-backed Burma peace initiative ‘probably’ to end

A controversial Burmese peace initiative backed by the Norwegian government is likely to end in the coming months, less than two years after it was launched, a spokesperson has confirmed, although he insisted that it had been a “success”.

The Myanmar Peace Support Initiative (MPSI), a multi-million dollar scheme supporting humanitarian and peace efforts in Burma’s conflict-torn border areas, is currently undergoing an internal review, which is expected to conclude that there is no “added value” in its work […]

Interview with Khin Ohmar about ASEAN

[Video] Interview with Burma Partnership’s Coordinator Khin Ohmar about ASEAN and the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum to be held in Burma in 2014 […]

Only One Side of the Story of Reform in Burma

By Khin Ohmar

The statement by Burma’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Wunna Maung Lwin, on 13 September at the 24th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, on the country’s recent reforms or “progressive developments,” made for interesting reading. Indeed, it seems to suit many, not least the Burma government, to impose a simplistic narrative on events in the country over the last two years. Yet such a narrative is only one side of the story […]

More cooperation vital to protect refugees

By Khin Ohmar

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and community-based organisations working on Myanmar refugee issues have not always seen eye to eye.

Community-based organisations in the past have criticised the UNHCR for not being transparent about its discussions with the governments of Myanmar and Thailand over their plans for the refugees. The community groups also believe it has not recognised the important role they can play in the planning and decision-making processes leading to the eventual return of refugees to Myanmar […]

West to push for another UN resolution

The international community appears almost certain to adopt a human rights resolution against Myanmar at the United Nations General Assembly, which opens this week in New York, despite government expectations that the resolution would be dropped this year for the first time in two decades.

Several sources told The Myanmar Times that a new resolution is likely because the international community believes the government has not taken sufficient action to address key issues in last year’s resolution, particularly steps towards reconciliation in Rakhine State and increased cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) […]

Rule of law still evades Myanmar 25 years after uprising

[Video] Since the inception of a semi-civilian government in Myanmar, in 2011, reform has been a recurring theme of discussion. On the 25th anniversary of pro-democracy protests, Ali Fowle reports from Yangon on rule of law in the country […]

As Myanmar Opens Up, A Look Back On A 1988 Uprising

[Audio] Until two years ago, Myanmar, also known as Burma, was ruled by the longest-running military dictatorship in the world. In 2010, the military began to loosen its grip on the country, increasing civil freedoms and offering some political and economic opportunity for citizens.

But some are wondering whether the country can truly transition to democracy if it fails to reconcile with its brutal past […]

Myanmar: human rights defenders sentenced for protesting against the Letpadaung Copper Mine

In 2010 7,800 acres (3,156 hectares) of farmland had been confiscated from local farmers for the Letpadaung Copper Mine project. Protests began in 2011 when farmers said that their fields were being contaminated by waste from the mine. On the 8th of July three human rights defenders, arrested while taking part in the protests, were sentenced to eleven years and six months and two years and six months respectively in prison […]

Latpadaung activists say they’re ready to fight charges

Three civil rights activists spoke up to defend their own rights at a press conference on Thursday at the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society Office in Yangon after the Myanmar government issued warrants for their arrest under Section 505 (b) of the penal code *—a public tranquility statute.

The three activists, Moe Thway (co-founder of Generation Wave), Wai Lu and Wai Hmuu Thwin (Yangon People Service Network) had travelled to the town of Monywa and Latpadaung village to assess the situation after April 25 […]