Burma’s NHRC: Cheerleader for the Regime

On Saturday, the world celebrated International Human Rights Day. However, in Burma, this anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights marked yet another year without any improvement in the human rights situation of the people.

The newly formed National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) used the occasion to release a statement praising the regime’s commitment to human rights.

In its statement, the NHRC referred to the importance of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The NHRC is right these two texts are of high importance. In fact, they are of such importance that, if the NHRC was an independent effective human rights body, it would have surely called on the regime to ratify these two fundamental instruments […]

Clinton’s Historic Trip to Burma Highlights Need for Continued Sanctions

At the beginning of her historical visit to Burma last Wednesday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “I came to assess whether the time is right for a new chapter in our shared history.” After a 3-day visit to the country, it seems like the US hopes to use a policy of deeper engagement with Burma as a way to bring more reforms and ensure that the “flickers of change” that President Obama mentioned are fanned “into flames of freedom that light the path toward a better future.” This strategy seems to be shared by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who told Clinton, “If we go forward together, I’m confident there will be no turning back from the road to democracy. We are not on that road yet, but we hope to get there as soon as possible with our friends.”

In her press conference when leaving the country, Secretary Clinton said that the regime must do more for the US to start the new chapter of the two countries’ history […]

Clinton Must Prioritize Release of Political Prisoners and Human Rights Abuses on Visit to Burma

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to arrive in Burma this Wednesday, 30 November, for the first visit by an American Secretary of State to the country in more than fifty years. In announcing her visit, US President Barack Obama has focused on positive developments in Burma, referring to “flickers of progress” but he also recognized that “there’s far more to be done” and that the possibility of establishing closer ties between Burma and the United States “will depend upon the Burmese government taking more concrete action.”

While many have welcomed the visit by Secretary Clinton, it is crucial that during her time in Burma, she prioritize putting pressure on the regime to bring an end to the decades of human rights abuses perpetrated against civilians throughout the country. Despite the “flickers of progress” that President Obama highlighted in his speech, the reality is that in many ways human rights abuses have escalated since President Thein Sein took office […]

Naypyidaw’s Lies and Disinformation Illustrate Lack of Willingness to Make Real Change

This week, Naypyidaw’s public relations games reached a new low with Information Minister Kyaw Hsan’s interview in the Wall Street Journal. For the first time in years, a regime official met with a major Western news organisation in a three-hour-long interview only two days before the opening of the 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali, Indonesia, where the bloc was to decide on Burma’s bid for the chairmanship in 2014. Kyaw Hsan’s interview was a last attempt at charming ASEAN member states and strategic partners. The regime’s disinformation campaign paid off with ASEAN ultimately making the decision to grant Burma the Chair, the EU welcoming positive moves in the country in an official statement, and US President Barack Obama announcing the first visit to the country in 50 years of an American Secretary of State.

However, a simple glance at this week’s interview is enough to see through the military-led government’s public relations campaign and realize that the regime under President Thein Sein is not ready for genuine change […]

Calling the Regime’s Bluff

In a press conference today, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi spoke about the expected release of political prisoners and refrained from answering any questions about whether the National League for Democracy (NLD) would re-register as a political party. The party has recently held several internal meetings to discuss the pending decision about re-registration and the possibility of running in the by-elections to be held before the end of the year, and will meet again on 18 November. At the moment, it remains unclear what the NLD will decide.

While there has been a lack of transparency around the recent meetings between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the regime, the two sides appear to be on unequal playing fields. It seems probable that the two sides have been negotiating next steps, with the regime using the release of remaining political prisoners as a bargaining chip for the re-registration of the NLD […]

Public Hearing Exposes Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes in Burma

Legislators and Civil Society Call on ASEAN to Take a Strong Stance

On the one-year anniversary of Burma’s first elections in 20 years, civil society from Burma and the region held a public hearing and seminar yesterday on human rights abuses that have continued unabated in the last year. In the morning public hearing, moving testimonies were delivered in person and via video by survivors and witnesses of human rights violations […]

Small Concessions From Naypyidaw Must Not Overshadow Increasing Number of Human Rights Abuses

A year after the flawed election of 2010 in Burma, it is time to take stock of where the country stands. The regime might have taken some positive actions, including suspending the Myitsone Dam in Kachin State, releasing some political prisoners, and most recently making changes to the political party registration laws that would allow the NLD to officially register. But this year was also marked by a dramatic increase in the number of human rights abuses being committed, especially in ethnic areas. Regional civil society and exiled activists from Burma based on the Thai-Burma border gathered today in Jakarta to remind ASEAN and the international community of this outrageous reality. Some small concessions may have been made by Naypyidaw, but these have not affected the majority of Burma’s civilian population, especially ethnic nationalities […]

Summary of the Public Hearing on Human Rights Abuses in Burma

Civilians in conflict areas ofBurmaface gross human rights abuses on a daily basis. The situation since the November 2010 elections has not improved. While there may be some changes in the political situation in Naypyidaw andRangoon, civilians in conflict areas are seeing no evidence of change […]

Upcoming Public Hearing and Seminar on Human Rights Abuses in Burma

Burma Partnership, in collaboration with SAPA Working Group on ASEAN, Task Force on ASEAN and Burma, KontraS and Solidaritas Indonesia for ASEAN People, are holding two events in Jakarta, Indonesia, this coming Monday: a Public Hearing on Human Rights Abuses and a Seminar on the Human Rights Situation in Burma. These back-to-back events come one year after Burma’s elections in 2010 and less than two weeks before ASEAN is expected to announce a decision on Burma’s bid to chair the regional bloc in 2014. They will also highlight the urgent need for a Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in the country.

Read more about these events here.

Civil Society to Hold Public Hearing and Seminar on Human Rights Abuses in Burma

Civil society organizations from Burma and the ASEAN region will be holding a public hearing on human rights abuses and a seminar on the human rights situation in Burma. These back-to-back events come one year after Burma’s elections in 2010 and less than two weeks before […]