Burma: Military Party Guaranteed to Dominate Elections

Merger of Two Junta-Backed Groups Undercuts Genuine Participation

The merging of Burma’s largest government-controlled social welfare organization into the army’s recently formed political party is clear evidence that the planned 2010 elections will not be legitimate, Human Rights Watch said today […]

Myanmar elections will test ASEAN’s credibility

Southeast Asian nations should press the Myanmar government to protect the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association throughout the elections period and beyond, Amnesty International said today on the eve of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Ha Noi […]

AAFA applauds House passage of Burma import ban renewal

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for voting to renew the total ban on imports from Burma under the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003. The affirmative voice vote came on the heels of a key vote letter AAFA sent to every member of the House urging for swift passage of the measure[…]

Congressman Crowley’s Legislation Imposing Sanctions on Burma Passes House

Crowley Urges Action on Crimes Against Humanity Following UN Findings

Today, Congressman Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx) praised the unanimous passage of H.J. Res. 83, a resolution led by the Congressman that extends sanctions on Burma. Specifically, the measure continues the ban on imports from Burma […]

U.S. House of Representatives Unanimously Extends Sanctions on Burma’s Military Junta

The U.S. Campaign for Burma, a leading coalition of Burmese activists in exile and American human rights campaigners working to promote freedom, justice and democracy in Burma, today welcomes and supports the unanimous decision of the U.S. House of Representative to extend sanctions against the military junta that rules the Southeast Asian country of Burma with guns, threats and oppression, and conducts crimes against humanity under a system of impunity. The House Joint Resolution 83 (H.J. RES. 83), the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, was introduced by Congressmen Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Peter King (R-NY), cosponsored by 20 additional House Members and approved by a voice vote today[…]

Burma regime continues to target civilians, UK tells UN Security Council

The British government has told the United Nations Security Council that Burma’s military dictatorship continues to target civilians, particularly from ethnic minorities, during a debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict on 7th July 2010[…]

Ivanhoe Mines claims stake in Monywa not sold, refuses to show any proof

In a tersely worded statement posted on the firm’s website, Ivanhoe Mines claimed its 50% stake in the Myanmar Ivanhoe Copper Company (MICCL), a joint venture it created with the Burmese regime to run the Monywa Copper project, was not sold.

Ivanhoe’s statement claimed that a CFOB press release which reported that the MICCL stake was sold to junta cronies in collaboration with Chinese weapons firms Norinco was “part of a discredited, long-running disinformation campaign by the Canadian Friends of Burma non-governmental organization, assisted once again by the India-based Mizzima News Agency” […]

Burma’s Democracy Leaders Hold Parliamentary Hearings in Kuala Lumpur; Malaysian MPs Support Call for National Reconciliation

Representatives of the Ten Alliances of Burma’s democracy and ethnic rights movement held hearings in both the Lower and Upper houses of Parliament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 7 and 8 July, respectively. Based on the undemocratic flaws in the 2008 Constitution and the military regime’s unjust election laws, the delegation called for the government of Malaysia to denounce this year’s elections unless the military regime changes course[…]

AASYC Statement on the Protest by Site-tway (Sittwe) Technological University Students Against the Increase in School Bus Fares

On the 5th July 2010, about (200) Site-tway (Sittwe) Technological University students took to the streets to call for their basic rights, which were being and continue to be deliberately neglected by the SPDC. The main reason that the students staged the protest was the fact that the fares of the school buses running from Site-tway to the university and (vice versa) had doubled. The government-controlled All– Bus Lines Control Committee (Ma Hta Tha) was fully responsible for this incident […]

Burma’s Human Rights Record Up For Review

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has submitted its report to the UN Human Rights Council for the Universal Periodic Review of Burma. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a new mechanism of the Human Rights Council (HRC) aimed at improving the human rights record of all 192 UN Member States […]