Post-election Burma: Impunity still reigns, women and children more vulnerable to crimes

Since the 7 November elections, Burma’s regime has continued to perpetrate crimes against humanity and war crimes with total impunity. Reports of serious international crimes have increased significantly in line with the escalation of the ongoing Tatmadaw offensives in Kachin, Shan, and Karen States […]

We have waited and seen enough: ASEAN must support a Commission of Inquiry

Eight months after Burma’s November 2010 elections, democracy remains an illusion and sparks of war are flying

This briefer explains the lack of progress since the election, in light of continued political repression, escalating armed conflict and ongoing human right violations. It calls on ASEAN to take immediate action to address these issues in its member country and set an example for the region […]

Analysis of Environmental Impact Study on Hydropower Development of Irrawaddy River

An analysis of key recommendations in the EIA of seven dams on the Irrawaddy and its tributaries in Kachin State which was funded by China Power Investment Corporation.

From Prison to Front Line: Analysis of convict porter testimony 2009 – 2011

Over the last two decades, KHRG has documented the abuse of convicts taken by the thousands from prisons across Burma and forced to serve as porters for frontline units of Burma’s state army, the Tatmadaw. In the last two years alone, Tatmadaw units have used at least 1,700 convict porters during two distinct, ongoing combat operations in Karen State and eastern Bago Division; this report presents full transcripts and analysis of interviews with 59 who escaped […]

Dead Men Walking: Convict Porters on the Front Lines in Eastern Burma

This 70-page report details abuses against convict porters including summary executions, torture, and the use of the convicts as “human shields” […]

Thein Sein’s First 100 Days: Words Not Matches By Actions

One hundred days after assuming the presidency in Burma, former General Thein Sein has failed to take any meaningful steps towards political, legal, and economic reforms. Thein Sein’s policies have been a continuation of the State Peace and Development Council’s programs.

This five-page briefer reveals that it was “business as usual” for the Burmese military despite President Thein Sein’s much-promoted image as a “softliner” […]

Ethnic Areas Update: Burma Heads Toward Civil War

In hostilities that began in February, the Tatmadaw rebuked longstanding ceasefire agreements with the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and the Shan State Army – North (SSA-N). In May and June, Tatmadaw attacks in Southern Kachin State and Northern and Southern Shan State escalated […]

Trafficking in Persons Report 2011

Burma is a source country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and for women and children subjected to sex trafficking in other countries. Burmese children are forced to labor as hawkers and beggars in Thailand. Many Burmese men, women, and children who migrate for work in Thailand, Malaysia, China, Bangladesh, India, and South Korea are subjected to conditions of forced labor or sex trafficking in these countries […]

Report on Tourism in Burma

[…] The Association Info-Birmanie has decided to publish this report in order to bring clarifications to those who consider going to Burma on the ins and outs of the issue of tourism. We consider that the information furnished by the travel agencies only; insisting on Burma’s beauty, the Country “of a thousand and one temples” are insufficient and that it is necessary to have the most amount of information possible in order to decide whether to travel to Burma or not […]

Burma Briefing No. 13: Germany and Burma – Business before human rights

Commentary on an article published on 20th June 2011 in the Financial Times by Markus Loening, Germany’s federal commissioner for human rights policy.

It is rare for a German government official to make a detailed statement on their thinking on Burma policy, and the article is more revealing than perhaps was intended.

Loening’s arguments expose a fundamental misunderstanding of the situation in Burma, the history of EU policy, of the Burmese economy, and of the dictatorship itself […]