Separated by Borders: United By Need, An Assessment of Reproductive Health on the Thai-Burma Border

The region of eastern Burma is mired in conflict and human rights abuses. The former Myanmar military junta and the new civilian government, are responsible for widespread human rights violations throughout […]

Women’s League of Burma Urges All Parties to Work Together Towards Genuine and Long-Lasting Peace in Burma

Women’s League of Burma (WLB) calls for U Thein Sein Government to implement a nation-wide ceasefire, which was announced officially in August 2011, and urges all parties to work together towards genuine and long-lasting peace in Burma […]

Union Day Highlights the Fundamental Need to Address the Political Aspirations of the Ethnic Nationalities

On 12 February 2012, Burma celebrated the 65th Union Day, a holiday that commemorates the signing of the Panglong agreement by Aung San, the leader of Burma’s independence movement, and representatives of the Chin, Shan and Kachin people. The agreement, which was never implemented, provided for the creation of a Federal Union, called for power sharing between the majority Burman and non-Burman ethnic nationalities, and granted the non-Burman ethnic nationalities autonomy in the administration of their territories.

On this historic occasion it is particularly important to ensure that political reforms in Burma live up to the aspirations of the non-Burman ethnic nationalities, including their desire to participate equally in public life. The Nationalities Brotherhood Forum, a five-party ethnic alliance which includes Chin, Karen, Mon, Rakhine and Shan representatives, noted in their Union Day statement that “[w]e are saddened by the continuing lack of equality and national democratic rights for the ethnic nationalities, despite the fact that Independence was collectively achieved for the Union of Burma through the spirit of Panglong.” […]

CSW Returns from Kachin State with Evidence of Continuing Grave Human Rights Violations

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) returned this week from a three-week fact-finding visit to Rangoon and Kachin State on the China-Burma border, where the CSW team recorded evidence of grave human rights violations […]

Statement of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar

… During the mission, I met with the Minister of Home Affairs, the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Border Affairs, the Attorney-General, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Union Election Commission, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs […]

Safeguarding Human Rights in a Post-Ceasefire Eastern Burma

The ongoing ceasefire negotiations between the Government of Myanmar and the Karen National Union present an important opportunity for bringing lasting peace and improved human rights conditions to local people in eastern Burma […]

Burmese Army Shoots Pregnant Teacher In Kachin State

Burma Campaign UK has confirmed reports that a pregnant ethnic Kachin woman was shot and killed by Burmese Army soldiers on 11th January 2012 […]

2012: A Year for Cautious Optimism

At the end of 2011, looking back at some of the initial steps taken towards progress in the country, 2012 looked more promising with the hope that real progress and substantive change would be coming to Burma. Only one week into the New Year, to our surprise, disenchantment has already set in.

On 2 January, President Thein Sein signed a clemency order marking this week’s 64th anniversary of independence from British colonial rule. Under the order, death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment and prisoners serving more than 30 years had their sentences cut to 30 years. Those serving 20 to 30 years had their terms reduced to 20 years, while those with less than 20 years had their sentences cut by one-fourth. Under this clemency, 6,656 people who had already served the time of their reduced sentences were released. However, as reported by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners – Burma (AAPP), at the end of the day on 3 January, only 34 political prisoners were freed. Those who have a critical role to play in the democratic transition and national reconciliation process will continue to remain behind bars for decades […]

An End to the Burma Army’s Offensive in Kachin State? More Empty Words and No Action

Many have hailed the recent announcement that President Thein Sein has ordered the Burma Army to cease offensive attacks on the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), instructing the Army to engage only in self-defense. Indeed, were the Burma Army to put an end to the offensive that it began in June, breaking a seventeen year ceasefire, this would be a positive development. However, as of yet, this appears to be only one more instance of the regime making promises designed to satisfy the calls for change from the international community without taking real action to improve the situation for the people of Burma. Multiple credible reports indicate that Burma Army attacks on KIA positions have continued over the course of the past week, despite President’s order.

Refugees fleeing the fighting and attendant human rights abuses are in increasing danger as the weather turns colder and the makeshift camps become more crowded, increasing the risk of disease. In one positive development, the regime permitted the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees, along with other UN bodies based in Burma, to visit refugees in KIA controlled areas for the first time. However, one visit from the UN cannot solve this crisis and refugees continue to be in desperate need of further assistance. The regime must grant the UN and international organizations continued access to these areas and permit them to continue to provide relief to civilians in need […]

Statement by the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission

A four-member team of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission headed by its Secretary visited Kachin State from 8 to 10 December 2011 in order to observe at first hand the civil population […]