Burma’s NHRC: An Empty Gesture (updated version)

The international community should not welcome the creation of Burma’s NHRC until it complies with the Paris Principles

On 5 September, Burma’s regime announced that it had established a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) charged with promoting and safeguarding the fundamental rights of citizens in accordance with the 2008 Constitution.

While the creation of a NHRC could be seen as a positive step, it should be welcomed with skepticism […]

Leaflet on Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes

This leaflet explains in very simple terms what are crimes against humanity and war crimes, including targeted attacks against civilians, deportation or forcible transfer of population, arbitrary imprisonment, torture, murder, rape or other forms of sexual violence, enslavement and enforced disappearance of persons.

Individuals and solidarity organizations are welcome to print and distribute this leaflet to raise public awareness about the ongoing crimes being committed in Burma […]

Under Siege in Kachin State, Burma

In September 2011, PHR conducted an investigation in Burma’s Kachin State in response to reports of grave human rights violations in the region. PHR found that between June and September 2011, the Burmese army looted food from civilians, fired indiscriminately into villages, threatened villages with attacks, and used civilians as porters and human minesweepers […]

Burma’s Parliament – A Tool for Institutionalized Oppression

Despite the regime’s claim that an elected legislature was a crucial step towards the emergence of its “discipline-flourishing democracy,” the Parliament turned out to be the regime’s key tool for institutionalizing oppression.

The pro-regime Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)-dominated Parliament refused to repeal the draconian laws that provided the basis for the imprisonment of several thousand political prisoners in recent years […]

Crimes in Northern Burma: Results from a Fact-Finding Mission to Kachin State

On 9 June 2011, civil war broke out in northern Burma between the Burma Army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), ending a 17-year long ceasefire agreement. This report presents data collected from a Partners investigation in southern Kachin State, Burma in October 2011 […]

The Recognition of Political Prisoners: Essential to Democratic and National Reconciliation Process

Reconciling divide on political prisoner numbers

The exact number of political prisoners in Burma has been hotly disputed over the past few months. It comes as no surprise that members of the U Thein Sein regime, such as the Presidential Advisor and Foreign Minister, dispute the numbers of political prisoners, saying estimates of political prisoners are inflated and erroneous. The burden of proof rests on the U Thein Sein regime, not the opposition, and calls for the regime to publicly disclose its prisoner lists along with evidence proving the status of each political detainee […]

ASEAN should delay Burma’s chairmanship to help ensure it moves towards democratic transition and peace

Since it requested the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2014, Burma’s regime has engaged in a campaign designed to make the country appear ready to chair the regional bloc. However, despite these attempts to win over ASEAN member states, the changes made by the regime have been superficial and far from being sufficient.

Granting Burma the chairmanship at this point would be premature, and a waste of a unique opportunity to encourage Burma along a path to genuine democratic transition and national reconciliation […]

Burma’s Regime Does it Again: Political Prisoners Remain in Jail

On 12 October, Burma’s regime released 6,359 prisoners from jails across the country. However, only 220 political prisoners were among those released.

The regime’s routine mass releases of prisoners haven’t resulted in the release of significant numbers of political prisoners. Political prisoners have accounted for about 1% of the prisoners freed by the regime during mass amnesties […]

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Burma

This is a key moment in Myanmar’s history and there are real opportunities for positive and meaningful developments to improve the human rights situation and deepen the transition to democracy. The new Government has taken a number of
steps towards these ends […]

Burma’s Covered Up War: Atrocities Against the Kachin People

At the same time as Thein Sein’s government is engaging in public relations maneuvers designed to make it appear that reform is taking place, its army is perpetrating atrocities against the Kachin people on a widespread and systematic basis. Seven months […]