Objection Against Unlawful Detention of a Human Rights Activist, Bawk Jar Lum Nyoi

Bawk Jar Lum Nyoi, a Kachin nationality human rights activist, was arrested in Mohnyin by police on July 18, 2013 and was going to be brought to Myitkyina today. Bawk Jar was the one who participated in recent study tour mainly organized by the Civil Rights Defenders, seeking to support the legal aid work in Burma, together with 9 lawyers, taking two weeks period from June 22 to July 7, 2003, and studied in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, which constituted a major part of former Yugoslavia, on the issues relevant to human rights and the rule of law […]

Press Release on the Arrest of Wai Phyo

Wai Phyo@Gali, Secretary of Generation Wave was arrested by Aung Lin Chief of Pyay Township police station (1) at 11:30 July 10th 2013. The police said they arrested him for a “Free Political Prisoners” poster campaign which he organized in July 2011. For that activity two other members of Generation Wave were arrested in July 2011 and sentenced for 3months imprisonment or 30,000 Kyats penalty in February 2012. Wai Phyo was escaped from arrest and police issued warrant on him since then […]

Human Rights Defenders Under Attack in Burma’s Democratic Transition

This week, seven protesters were jailed, four villagers arrested and two social activists detained for protesting against the relocation of local communities in different areas of Burma. These events all took place in a broader context of judicial harassment and arrest of activists, especially those supporting farmers against land confiscation.

On 12 June, seven protesters were jailed, including three for one year and three months, for demonstrating without permission. The case started in August 2012 when U Sein Aung, U Aye Thein and U Win Swe Myint were arrested without warrant after staging a peaceful demonstration against streets vendors’ relocation in Mandalay. The three were charged under article 505 (b) of the Penal Code and Section 18 of the Peaceful Demonstration and Gathering Act. They were denied bail and spent 177 days in prison including two days in solitary confinement.

Earlier this week, around 100 police officers entered Kan Bae village around Inle Lake and arrested four villagers without warrant. The arrests come after locals, whose lands were confiscated due to a hotel zoning project, plowed the lands seized by the hotel developers. Following the arrests, locals fled the village in fear of further police intervention […]

Open Letter to President U Thein Sein on the Arbitrary Arrest, Incommunicado Detention and Unfair Trial of Human Rights Defenders and Peaceful Protesters

Your Excellency,

Burma Partnership, a regional democracy and human rights advocacy network, and Assistance Association for Political Prisoners – Burma, a political prisoner monitoring and advocacy group, along with the human rights organizations endorsing this letter, wish to draw your attention to the arbitrary arrest, prolonged incommunicado detention, and unfair trial of human rights defenders and peaceful protesters, most recently in Salingyi Township, Sagaing Region […]

BURMA: No Police Prosecuted for Incendiary Attack but Seven Activists so Far Imprisoned Over Letpadaung Mine Dispute

On 8 June 2013 the Myanmar Journalists Network hosted a press conference in Rangoon about the imprisonment without right to defence of at least seven persons who have been actively opposing the Letpadaung Hills copper mine project, in Monywa District, Sagaing Region, where police on the night of 29 November 2012 broke up encamped protestors by firing incendiary devices into their shelters, causing extensive burning and other injuries […]

Violent Crackdown Against Buddhist Monks, New Regime with an Old Method

Thein Sein’s government has revealed its true colors with the surprisingly reckless and bloody crackdown on peaceful protesters in Monywa, Sagaing Region. The crackdown on the protest camps came at 3am, without any chance for the protesters to withdraw. It was an ambush and an old tactic that characterizes the old military regime that the world has been trying to believe has reformed.

The Letpadaung copper project near Monywa – the largest copper mine in Burma – is a joint venture between military-owned Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd., and Wan Bao, a unit of the weapons manufacturer China North Industries Corp. The project has been facing a growing objection since August by the local communities in the Letpadaung area who say the project has confiscated as many as 7,800 acres of land, forcing them out of their villages and ruining the environment.

Riot police aggressively dispersed protesters using water cannons, tear gas and, according to protesters, incendiary devices that set the camps on flames leaving at least 50 people injured by the fire. Many of those who were severely wounded were Buddhist monks […]

AAPP Condemns the Re-Arrest of Ashin Gambira (aka) Nyi Nyi Lwin

On December 1st, 2012, Ashin Gambira (aka) Nyi Nyi Lwin was re-arrested by Burmese authorities whilst staying at his brother-in-law Nyi Nyi Zaw’s house in Thingangyun Township, Rangoon. On December 2nd, he was sent to Insein prison where he was incarcerated […]

U Gambira Re-arrested, Transferred to Insein Prison

U Gambira (Ko Nyi Nyi Lwin) was arrested together with his mother, Daw Yey, on Saturday 1 December at 5 p.m. in Hlaing Township, Rangoon. Ashin Gambira had just returned to a friend’s home following a meeting with the UN Human Rights Ambassador in Rangoon. His mother was released later that evening, but U Gambira was taken to the District Police Office, from where he was transferred to the notorious Insein Prison […]