First Widespread Survey of Burma’s Chin State Shows Evidence of Crimes Against Humanity

In advance of the Universal Periodic Review of human rights in Burma, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) today announced findings from the first population-based survey to document human rights violations in all nine townships of Chin State. The report, “Life Under the Junta: Evidence of Crimes Against Humanity in Burma’s Chin State,” provides the first quantitative data of human rights violations against the people of Chin State in Western Burma. The report also reveals that at least eight of the violations surveyed fall within the purview of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and may constitute crimes against humanity […]

CSW Renews Call for UN Inquiry into Crimes Against Humanity in Burma Following New Evidence of Violations in Chin State

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) welcomes the release today of a major new report highlighting human rights violations against the Chin people in Burma, just over a week before Burma is due for a Universal Periodic Review of its human rights record at the United Nations.

The report, Life under the Junta: Evidence of Crimes against Humanity in Burma’s Chin State, published by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), winners of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize, provides further evidence of crimes against humanity perpetrated by Burma’s military regime […]

New Evidence of Abuses in Burma’s Chin State Strengthens Call for UN Commission of Inquiry

The Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) today welcomed a new report published by Nobel Peace Prize winning organization Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), “Life Under the Junta: Evidence of Crimes Against Humanity in Burma’s Chin State.”

Using innovative population-based methods to document human rights violations in all nine townships of Chin State, researchers found that almost 92 percent of households surveyed had experienced forced labour at least once in the year prior to interviews […]

Burma Rivers Network Welcomes NLD’s Concerns About Nationwide Impacts of Myitsone Dam

The Burma Rivers Network (BRN) welcomes the NLD’s recent statements that dams are being constructed in Burma without any consideration for the environment or for local residents, and that the Myitsone dam, the first on the Irrawaddy, will have negative impacts on the entire country […]

Karen People in the UK Celebrate Karen New Year and Youth of the Year 2010 Award

Today, Karen community in the United Kingdom celebrates Karen New Year in Sheffield city. On this special day, Karen people around the world celebrate it with joy and happiness. This celebration is organized by the Karen Community Association UK (KCA-UK) with the aim to preserve and promote Karen culture […]

National Youth Network – Statement 1/2011

Youths, from civil society organizations, political parties, ethnic youths, worker youths, farmer youths have all decided to form a nationwide network, having met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on the 28th December 2010 . And thus, National Youth Network, which represents all youths in Myanmar, was formed in accordance with the Leadership and guide line of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi […]

Placing Human Rights at the Forefront of Indonesia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2011

In the beginning of 2011, KontraS, HRWG and FORUM-ASIA on behalf of the Solidarity of Asian People’s Advocacy (SAPA) Task Force on ASEAN and Human Rights (TFAHR), would like to welcome and highlight our demand for Indonesia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN this year on the promotion and protection of human rights in the ASEAN region.

Having branded as a democratic country with respect for human rights within national and international communities, there is a high expectation on Indonesia towards its Chairmanship of ASEAN this year […]

Economic Analysis and Vision of the NLD

An analysis of the economic situation in Burma shows clearly that the situation is dire. Due to the unequal distribution of state revenue, the majority of the people in Burma are facing high commodity prices, high unemployment rates and a lack of employment opportunities.

The main cause of the increased commodity prices is the government’s printing of large amounts of new money to cover the deficit in government expenses […]

Open Letter: Thailand must respect principle of non-refoulement and protect the rights of refugees

Your excellencies,

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member organisations, the Union for Civil Liberty (UCL) and the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma), are deeply troubled by the actions of the Thai Army and border police to force at least 166 refugees back to Burma on 25 December 2010. These refugees fled their home villages in southeastern Burma due to armed clashes between the Burma’s military forces and ethnic rebels […]

ASEAN, UN, asked to support refugees fleeing armed conflict in Burma: This shows the bankruptcy of junta’s 2010 polls, activists say

“There is no doubt in our mind that this decades-old armed conflict in Burma can only be resolved by forcing the junta to democratize. The Burmese junta historically is even fuelling the conflict between armed groups. This continued armed conflict simply exposes the bankruptcy of junta’s 2010 elections.”

Thus said Egoy Bans, spokesperson of the Free Burma Coalition-Philippines in reaction to the armed conflict that sparked recently near the Thai-Burma borders as a result of an increasing tension between the Burma’s military regime, The State Peace and Development Council and ethnic armed groups […]