WFP Scales Up Response To Rakhine Displacement In Myanmar

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded distributions of emergency food supplies to thousands of people displaced by inter-communal violence in Myanmar’s Northern Rakhine State. In a remote region, short of basic infrastructure, WFP moved early to reach those affected and will scale up operations further in the coming days […]

UNHCR Gears Up for Humanitarian Response in Myanmar

Following the sudden escalation of violence some 10 days ago, the situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine state remains tense. The efforts of Myanmar authorities to restore law and order are continuing. There are, however, reports of sporadic incidents and violence.

According to initial government estimates, at least 48,000 people have been displaced by the violence that erupted last week. We expect this number to continue to grow as further information becomes available […]

International Monitoring and Protection of all Civilians from Religious and Ethnic Violence Needed in Western Burma

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma), the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) of Indonesia, and Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) of Indonesia are deeply alarmed by the continued sectarian violence in Rakhine State in western Burma since 3 June 2012, which has resulted in fatalities, injuries, destruction of property and displacement of residents. We appeal for immediate international attention to this disaster […]

Statement on Current Situation in Myanmar

We, Generation Wave, feel very sad about the current riots in Myanmar, which are damaging the lives of people and creating an unsafe situation, endangering lives.

In Burma, different religions and ethnicities have lived together for centuries. Our history shows how people from different religions and ethnic groups fought together against colonialism, in-just authoritarian rulers for the sake of our nation […]

Violence in West Burma: Racial and Religious Intolerance Must Cease!

Info Birmanie is deeply concerned by the violent riots of an inter-religious nature, which have taken place over the last few days in the Rakhine State (Arakan) in West Burma.

Since 2nd June numerous people have been killed and others wounded during riots between Buddhists and Muslims in Western Burma despite the state of emergency ordered by the government. Official media speak of 7 killed and 17 wounded and still, according to official figures, 500 houses have been destroyed. Meanwhile the Burmese authorities and medias do not seem to take into account the numerous victims belonging to the Rohingya minority, who, according to the Rohingya defence groups, could reach several hundred […]

CSW Urges Burmese Government to Stop Violence in Western Burma

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) today called on the Government of Burma to end sectarian violence in Arakan State, western Burma immediately and take steps to address the underlying causes.

In the past week, horrific violence has erupted between the majority Buddhist Rakhine (or Arakanese) people, and the predominantly Muslim Rohingyas in northern Arakan State, leaving hundreds of homes burned and many people dead […]

Burma: Protect Muslim, Buddhist Communities at Risk

The government of Burma should take all necessary steps to protect communities at risk in Arakan State after violence between Buddhists and Muslims in western Burma left an unknown number dead, Human Rights Watch said today. The government has taken inadequate steps to stop sectarian-violence between Arakan Buddhists and ethnic Rohingya Muslims, or to bring those responsible to justice.

Human Rights Watch urged the government to permit prompt access to international journalists, aid workers, and diplomats […]

Burma’s Inequalities Must be Addressed Through National Reconciliation and Broad Reforms

The past week has brought shocking news of sectarian tensions erupting in violence in Arakan State, while 9 June marked one year since armed conflict broke out in Kachin State, ending a 17-year long ceasefire agreement between the Burma Army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). These problems highlight the urgent need for national reconciliation across political, ethnic and religious lines, and comprehensive reforms that address deep inequalities in Burma.

On 8 June, the Kachin Women’s Association – Thailand (KWAT) released a new report at a press conference with other Kachin organizations to highlight the ongoing armed conflict and human rights abuses. KWAT’s report documents how in the last year, the people of Kachin State have faced arbitrary arrest, torture, forced labor, rape and sexual violence at the hands of the Burma Army who continue to commit these crimes with impunity. Among the most horrendous accounts are those of women being gang-raped, tortured and used as sexual slaves by Burma Army soldiers […]

CSW Condemns Religiously-Motivated Violence in Burma and Calls for Religious Freedom, Tolerance and Harmony

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) today condemned rising religious intolerance in Burma, and the killing of ten Muslims in Arakan State on 3 June, and called on the government, democracy movement and all the people of Burma to work to improve inter-faith relations, protect religious freedom and promote religious harmony […]

Forced Labour Still Prevails: An Overview of Forced Labour Practices in North Arakan, Burma

This report by the Arakan Project offers an overview of forced labour practices in Northern Arakan/Rakhine State of Burma/Myanmar over a 6-month period – from November 2011 to May 2012 […]