Karen Villagers Still Fleeing Post-Election Attacks By Burmese Army

On the same day UN Burma envoy Vijay Nambiar visited Rangoon, the Burmese Army fired mortar bombs at a civilian village in Karen State, breaking international law.

Thousands of ethnic Karen have fled a new Burmese Army military offensive in Karen State, along the Thailand Burma border, in the past two weeks […]

Human rights: Burma, Iraq, Tibet

MEPs welcome the recent release of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi but are concerned about her safety and insist that her freshly regained freedom must be unconditioned and unrestricted. They urge the Burmese regime to engage in discussions with her and with representatives of the minority peoples […]

AAPP urges the international community to keep the spotlight on Burma’s 2,203 other political prisoners

Ten days after the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners urges the international community to keep the spotlight on Burma’s 2,203 political prisoners who remain in prison. The international community must unite in a concerted effort to campaign for the release of all political prisoners […]

Burma’s Elections Marked by Violence, Intimidation and Ethnic Inequality

Burma’s November elections took place in an environment marred by widespread violence and intimidation as the regime sought to exploit the pervasive climate of fear in Burma to ensure complete control over the electoral process. Intimidation and threats were carried out in the lead up to the elections, in order to ensure a lack of a viable political opposition and to guarantee ‘popular support’ for regime-backed parties. These threats proved to be largely successful, and when they were not, the regime often followed up the threats with repercussions. Such election related human rights violations took place across the country, but were noticeably worse in ethnic areas, highlighting the regime’s long-standing policy of ethnic discrimination and persecution. This disregard for ethnic rights has translated in heightened tension between ethnic communities and the central regime, and an associated risk of increased armed conflict in ethnic areas.[…]

U.S.House of Representatives passed resolutiondenouncing regime’s sham election

The US House of Representatives on Thursday condemned Myanmar’s recent elections and said no government there can be legitimate without the participation of Democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi[…]

Activists urge Burmese junta to start genuine dialogue with opposition; reiterate rejection of 2010 polls

Filipino solidarity activists, mostly women, under the Free Burma Coalition – Philippines (FBC-Phils) today held a rally in front of the Burma (Myanmar) embassy to welcome the release from house arrest of Burma’s democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi […]

PFOB Chair Decries Absurd Election Complaint Fees and Calls on the Military and its Proxy Party to Protect Aung San Suu Kyi

It is absurdly difficult to make a complaint about the recent sham elections in Burma orchestrated by the military and their party USDP. To make a single complaint costs about 5 times your annual income. And if the complaint is determined to be unfounded, you can be fined about 15 times your annual salary. “This is absurd” said PFOB Chair the Honourable Larry Bagnell M.P. Yukon […]

It’s time ASEAN and the UN step up to the task: Investigate abuses, reject election and support Aung San Suu Kyi, urges AIPMC

The release of Aung San Suu Kyi offers new hope for Myanmar. But her release does not solve any of the fundamental problems in the country. The world must continue to work for the freedom of the people of Myanmar.

Another 2,200 political prisoners remain behind bars. Last week’s election reignited ethnic tensions and triggered fresh fighting along the Thai-Myanmar border. Any return to fighting increases the risk of fresh human rights abuses primarily targeting the country’s ethnic nationalities and of new waves of refugees being forced to leave their homes for safety […]

Aung San Suu Kyi freed, but Burma taken hostage by the generals

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma), and the Burma Lawyers’ Council are pleased to see Daw Aung San Suu Kyi regain her freedom on 13 November after spending 15 of the last 21 years in detention in Burma […]

European MPs Welcome the Release of Aung San Suu Kyi but Call for Release of All Political Prisoners and Genuine Dialogue

The European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma (EPCB) welcomes the release of leading Burmese democratic leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and demands the international community to keep the pressure on release of all Burmese political prisoners and on genuine dialogue for national reconciliation […]