Kachin National Organization Demand Unconditional Release of All Kachin Political Prisoners

Today, the Kachin National Organization (KNO) expressed concern that the Burmese government is continuing to arrest and sentence fellow Kachins for their political belief at alarmingly high rates in Kachin State despite the Burmese government declared sweeping amnesty on Tuesday 31st December 2013 that it would have “no more political prisoners” by year-end […]

President Thein Sein Fails to Keep His Promise to Release All Political Prisoners by Year-End

The international community should hold the Burmese government accountable for failing to fulfill its promise to release all political prisoners by December 31, 2013, said FIDH and its member organization the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma) today […]

Kachin Group Slams China’s New CSR Report on Irrawaddy Dams

A Kachin group today criticized the new corporate social responsibility report on the controversial Irrawaddy dams, calling for a locally-led development process, not one benefiting only China […]

Laphai Gam Detention Illegal Says United Nations

The United Nations Working Group On Arbitrary Detention has issued a ruling that the Burmese government’s detention of Kachin farmer Laphai Gam is arbitrary, and demanded his immediate release. Burma Campaign UK took his case to the United Nations for review last year […]

Amnesty Does Not Free All Political Detainees

The Asian Human Rights Commission welcomes Order No. 51/2013 of 30 December 2013 by the president of Burma (Myanmar), issuing a general amnesty for all persons imprisoned or facing trial or investigation for certain categories of political offences. The categories include persons accused or convicted of offences under the colonial-era Unlawful Associations Act, for charges of treason, sedition or disturbing the public tranquillity under the Penal Code (sections 122, 124A and 505[b]), the 2011 Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law, and the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act […]

Khin Mi Mi Khaing, Myint Myint Aye and Thant Zin Htet Released After Hunger Strike

Burma Campaign UK today welcomes the release of Khin Mi Mi Khaing, Myint Myint Aye and Thant Zin Htet, who have been on hunger strike since December 13th. The three were released after Pegu Divisional court accepted their appeal against the charges against them.

Khin Mi Mi Khaing and Myint Myint Aye are leaders of two independent women’s networks in Burma, and Thant Zin Htet is a student activist. In June, they visited Pae Ma Khan village in Bago Division to show their support to farmers who ploughed land that had been confiscated from them […]

Brang Yung and Lahpai Gam Prison Sentences Increased

On Thursday 19th December two Kachin civilians, Brang Yung and Lahpai Gam, had their sentences increased from 2 to 7 years in jail. They were already serving 2 year prison sentences after a verdict last month. It is not yet clear why their sentences were increased. Although Thein Sein promised to release all political prisoners by the end of this year, farmers, activists and ethnic civilians are continuing to be arrested, and put on trial […]

USCB Welcomes Introduction of The Burma Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2013

Today, the U.S. Campaign for Burma (USCB) welcomes the U.S. Senate’s introduction of The Burma Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2013. The bipartisan measure introduced by Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Bob Corker (R-TN) would prohibit most U.S. military assistance to the Burmese military unless concrete steps are taken to address human rights abuses and constitutional reform […]

President Obama: Urge Burma To Stop New Political Arrests

Today, the U.S. Campaign for Burma (USCB), along with 41 other human rights organizations, expressed concern that the Burmese government is continuing to arrest political prisoners/prisoners of conscience at alarmingly high rates. These arrests blatantly discredit the Burmese government’s claim that all political prisoners will be released by the end of December 2013 […]

Letter to President Obama on Political Prisoners

Dear President Obama,

We are writing to express our concern that the Burmese government is continuing to arrest farmers, activists, human rights defenders, and ethnic minorities at alarmingly high rates. These arrests discredit the Burmese government’s claim that all political prisoners/prisoners of conscience (hereinafter “political prisoners”) will be released by the end of December 2013 […]