Burma: Human Rights Defender Mr Wai Phyo Arrested for Organising a Campaign Calling for Freedom to Political Prisoners

On 12 July 2013, human rights defender Mr Wai Phyo was denied bail and will consequently remain in detention until his next court appearance on 25 July 2013.

Wai Phyo is Secretary of Generation Wave, a pro-democracy Burmese youth movement. He was arrested on 10 July for his participation in the “Free Political Prisoners” poster campaign, a nation-wide campaign organised by Generation Wave in July 2011 to call for the release of all political prisoners in Burma […]

Call for Probe Into Military Junta’s Crimes Against the Media

Reporters Without Borders has written an open letter to Burmese President Thein Sein, who begins a two-day visit to France tomorrow, calling for an investigation into the former military government’s crimes against the media since 1962 […]

Myanmar: UN Expert Greets Abolition of Notorious Border Security Force in Rakhine State and Calls for Accountability

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, today welcomed the abolition of Nasaka, the notorious border security force operating in Rakhine State. He urged the authorities to investigate and hold accountable those members of the force responsible for human rights abuses […]

Thailand: Ensure Access to Justice and Protection for Rohingya Asylum-Seekers

Thai authorities must ensure the investigation into the alleged rape of a Rohingya asylum-seeker from Myanmar is impartial and that all those involved, including the police, are held accountable in a trial that meets international standards of fairness. Thailand has a responsibility to ensure effective protection, both in law and practice, of asylum-seekers and migrants arriving at its shores and living within its borders […]

Cameron Should Demand Thein Sein Withdraw Soldiers From Ethnic States

Human rights training for Burmese Army won’t work

The Karen Community Association UK (KCA UK) today calls on Prime Minister David Cameron to press President Thein Sein to withdraw his soldiers from ethnic states to demonstrate he is genuine about wanting peace and improving human rights.

Despite a ceasefire agreement being reached between Thein Sein Government and the Karen National Union (KNU) in January 2012, human rights violations including force labour, arbitrary arrest, detention and land confiscation continue in Karen State […]

British Parliamentarians Call on Government to Prioritise Human Rights During Burmese President Thein Sein Visit

British Parliamentarians from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma are calling on Foreign Secretary William Hague to prioritise human rights when he meets Burmese President Thein Sein in London.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group For Democracy in Burma has recently heard evidence on a number of serious human rights issues, including the continuing recruitment of child soldiers, ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya, religious persecution against the Chin ethnic minority, and possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Burmese Army against Kachin civilians […]

Prime Minister David Cameron Should Press President Thein Sein to Stop Rohingya Ethnic Cleansing

After decades of persecution, state sponsored deadly violence against the Rohingya and Kaman Muslims was carried out in Arakan in June and October 2012 that resulted in the killing of many thousands people, massive rape and large scale destruction of villages, homes and properties and displacement of about 150,000 Muslims. In addition the evidences of mass grave have been uncovered by the creditable human rights groups […]

Statement on Abuse Perpetrated Against LGBT in Mandalay

On the nights of 6 and 7 July 2013, twelve gay and transgender people were arrested along the east and southeast areas of the Mandalay moat and subjected to verbal, physical, and sexual abuse by police officials while being detained. Burma’s LGBT Rights Network strongly condemns these actions toward members of the LGBT community as unlawful, inequitable, and bigoted. They serve as evidence of the deeply ingrained strains of discrimination, prejudice, and stigma against LGBT that are endemic throughout Burma […]

Burma: UK’s Cameron Should Press President on Rights

Demand Accountability for Crimes Against Humanity, Release of Political Prisoners

Britain’s Prime Minster David Cameron should urge visiting Burmese President Thein Sein to bring those responsible for atrocities against Burma’s Muslims to justice, release all political prisoners, and ensure that new legislation meets international human rights standards, Human Rights Watch said today. Thein Sein is visiting the United Kingdom from July 14 to 16, 2013 […]

UNFC Press Statement 5/2013

1. On July 13, from 9 am to 5 pm, the UNFC Political Dialogue Delegation’s Technical Team, led by Padoh Mahn Mahn, held consultative meeting in Chiangmai, Thailand, with the Union Peace Making Work Committee’s Technical Team, led by U Hla Maung Shwe […]