Burma Army and Proxy Army Send IDP’s Running in Hpa-An district, Karen State

4,000 ethnic Karen were sent running from their homes by a sudden surge in violence in the Karen State […]

War continues in Burma: 19-Year-Old Shot and Killed at Checkpoint, 22-Year-Old Killed by a Landmine, and a Mother injured by Shrapnel

The Burma Army is currently engaged in an escalating conflict in both northern Shan and Kachin states. The situation has left several dead, including a 22-year-old man killed by a landmine, and others injured, such as a 39-year-old mother wounded by shrapnel and incapacitated. To further highlight the lack of security the Burma Army brings to the entire region, in Myitkyina, where there is not active fighting, Burma Army soldiers gunned down a 21-year-old student at a checkpoint […]

Human Rights Watch: “They Can Arrest You at Any Time” The Criminalization of Peaceful Expression in Burma

The past five years have been a time of liberalization and change in Burma. The abolition of prior censorship and a loosening of licensing requirements has led to a vibrant press, and the shift from formal military rule has emboldened civil society […]

“After release I had to restart my life from the beginning” The Experiences of Ex-political Prisoners in Burma and Challenges to Reintegration

Since 1962, between 7,000 and 10,000 political prisoners have been imprisoned in Burma. Whilst a multitude of anecdotal records exist, there is very little comprehensive data concerning the torture and mistreatment experienced by political prisoners within Burma’s interrogation centers and jails […]

Multiple forces in the Divide, An Update on Karen 7th Brigade Region

Once one of the strongest regions in Burma for the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the area around KNLA 6th Brigade now stands as one of the most divided […]

SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN MYANMAR: Why the U.S. Should Maintain Existing Sanctions Authority

Is now the time for the U.S. Government to drop all sanctions on Myanmar (also known as Burma)? A network of corporate lobbyists and business associations are seeking to convince the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama to lift all remaining sanctions on the country by letting the existing sanctions authority expire this month […]

Open Letter to Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the UN Human Rights Council

Dear Excellencies,

We write to you regarding Burma/Myanmar as civil society groups working on the ground in the country. We strongly urge you to continue the UN Human Rights Council resolution on Burma/Myanmar and as in past years extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur under Item 4 of the Council’s agenda. At this important juncture in the country’s history, we request the Council and the Special Rapporteur to work towards establishing clearly benchmarked guidelines that will act as a road map for the future of human rights in Burma/Myanmar […]

Burma Army Offensives Against KIA No. 8 Brigade Headquarters and SSPP/SSA Headquarters

During October and November 2015 the Burma Army increased their attacks against the Shan, Ta’ang Kokang and Kachin peoples, displacing 10,000 people in Kachin State and Northern Shan State, Burma. In spite of elections and talks of ceasefires, the Burma Army troop presence, reinforcements, and resupply in Kachin and Northern Shan States has risen to levels not seen since the Burma Army broke the 17-year ceasefire agreement with Kachin State in 2011 […]

Myanmar Opium Farmers’ Forum Report Published Today

Today the Myanmar Opium Farmers’ Forum released the report of its third meeting. The report stresses that farmers grow opium to ensure food security for their families and to provide for basic needs, and to have access to health and education. According to the report, “The large majority of opium farmers are not rich and grow it for their survival. Therefore, they should not be treated as criminals […]”

Commentary: The 2015 General Election: A New Beginning?

The resounding victory of the National League for Democracy in the November general election has raised hopes in Myanmar and around the world that, finally, the country could be on the road towards peace and democracy. Sadly, there have been too many failures in the past for simple optimism now […]