European Parliament Urges Burma to Respect Right to Information

Reporters Without Borders hails yesterday’s European Parliament resolution on the plight of Burma’s Rohingya Muslims, who are not only persecuted by the authorities and denied Burmese citizenship, but also denied access to news and information and subjected to an information blackout […]

The Kaladan Project in India and Burma: Transparency and Local Benefits Essential, Say Activists

A new report by the Kaladan Movement raises community concerns about the lack of government transparency surrounding the implementation of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project. The $214 million Kaladan Project – estimated to be fully operational in 2015 – will see the construction of a combined inland waterway and highway transportation system connecting Mizoram State in Northeast India with a Bay of Bengal deepsea port at Site-tway, Arakan State in western Burma […]

BURMA: No Police Prosecuted for Incendiary Attack but Seven Activists so Far Imprisoned Over Letpadaung Mine Dispute

On 8 June 2013 the Myanmar Journalists Network hosted a press conference in Rangoon about the imprisonment without right to defence of at least seven persons who have been actively opposing the Letpadaung Hills copper mine project, in Monywa District, Sagaing Region, where police on the night of 29 November 2012 broke up encamped protestors by firing incendiary devices into their shelters, causing extensive burning and other injuries […]

Open Letter on the Treatment of Rohingya Asylum-Seekers and Migrants

Dear Minister,

I am writing on behalf of Amnesty International to express concerns about the treatment of asylum-seekers and migrants, in particular those from  Myanmar ’s Rohingya minority community, who have arrived or made attempts to arrive in Thailand by sea in recent months […]

Statement of Ethnic People, Civil Society Organizations and Networks Calling for a Genuine and Just Peace

On 9 June 2013, it will have been two full years since armed conflict between the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and Myanmar government resumed on 9 June 2011. During the last two years, more than 10 peace talks have taken place and we, the undersigned social networks and civil society organizations acknowledge and welcome the 7-point agreement signed in Myitkyina on 30 May as a step of improvement in terms of transparency […]

President U Thein Sein: Put Words into Action

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) welcomes President U Thein Sein’s clear call in a recent address for the “release of prisoners with a view of fostering national reconciliation” – one of the major obstacles to Burma’s nascent democratic transition […]

Federalism is Key to Genuine Peace

60 Kachin community organisations and Burma campaign groups worldwide in 21 countries will take part in a Global Day of Action today to mark the 2nd anniversary of military attacks by the Burmese government against the Kachin Independence Army and Kachin civilians breaking a 17- year ceasefire […]

UK Says Investigation Required Into Ethnic Cleansing of Rohingya

Burma Campaign UK today welcomed a statement by Foreign Office Minister Baroness Warsi, that ‘independent investigative work’ is required ‘for an informed assessment as to whether ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity have been committed.’ However, words need to be turned into action or they will simply amount […]

Civil Society in Yangon to Mark 2nd Anniversary of Armed Conflict in Kachin State

On 9 June, 18 civil society organizations will commemorate the 2nd anniversary of renewed fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Kachin State […]

Burma’s War Against Kachin Creating ‘Perfect Storm’ for Human Trafficking

A new report by Kachin women exposes how the Burmese government’s war against the Kachin has greatly increased the risk of human trafficking along the China-Burma border […]