The European Union should back UN inquiry on Burma

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) today called on the EU and its Member States to press for a United Nations Commission of Inquiry (COI) to be set up to investigate serious on-going human rights violations in Burma/Myanmar […]

EU Must Back Burma Crimes Inquiry At UN General Assembly

Burma Campaign UK today publishes an updated and expanded Briefing Paper – UN General Assembly and Crimes in Burma – highlighting how the UN General Assembly has failed to establish a UN Commission of Inquiry which could help reduce human rights abuses in Burma […]

Burma Briefing No. 14: War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity in Burma

For twenty years the United Nations has documented human rights abuses in Burma which may be in violation of international law. In March 2010 the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Burma called on the UN to establish a Commission of Inquiry into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity. Later that year, with no serious moves being made to establish an inquiry, he repeated his call, stating: “Failing to act on accountability in Myanmar will embolden the perpetrators of international crimes and further postpone long-overdue justice.” Burma’s democracy movement is also calling for a UN Commission of Inquiry, and human rights groups worldwide are supporting that call […]

AIPMC Statement on Current Military Offensive and Rights Abuse by the Myanmar Army in Ethnic Areas

Monitor recent rape cases, reject Myanmar’s bid to chair ASEAN and cut financial lifelines for despots, AIPMC urges ASEAN

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) is deeply concerned about atrocities against civilians following Myanmar Army offensives against ethnic armed groups in Shan State and Kachin State in Myanmar, notably sexual violence against women and girls, including gang-rape by order of high level officials […]

Post-election Burma: Impunity still reigns, women and children more vulnerable to crimes

Since the 7 November elections, Burma’s regime has continued to perpetrate crimes against humanity and war crimes with total impunity. Reports of serious international crimes have increased significantly in line with the escalation of the ongoing Tatmadaw offensives in Kachin, Shan, and Karen States […]

ASEAN Must Address Burma’s Armed Conflict and Human Rights Violations at Upcoming Meetings

Prior to the upcoming 44th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) and 18th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Burma Partnership has highlighted the continued deterioration of human rights under the military regime and the urgent need for ASEAN to take concrete action against such violations of basic human rights standards and principles included in the ASEAN Charter.

Despite the regime’s claims of a new peaceful democratic order in Burma, opposition politicians remain sidelined and little has changed for the 1,994 political prisoners that remain behind bars. Moreover, ongoing military offensives against ethnic armed groups in Eastern Burma have lead to tens of thousands of displaced civilians, many of whom have faced mounting human rights abuses, including rape, extrajudicial killings, and forced labor. The situation has resulted in refugees fleeing to neighboring Thailand and China, presenting a threat to regional stability […]

No More “Wait and See”: ASEAN Must Support a Commission of Inquiry in Burma

Ahead of the 44th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) and 18th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Bali, Indonesia, Burma Partnership joined civil society organizations in Jakarta to raise serious concerns about human rights situation in Burma and throughout the region.

In a briefing today, Khin Ohmar, Coordinator of Burma Partnership, spoke about the lack of genuine democratic progress in her country in the 8 months since the fraudulent elections and the first three months of the military regime’s puppet parliament […]

We have waited and seen enough: ASEAN must support a Commission of Inquiry

Eight months after Burma’s November 2010 elections, democracy remains an illusion and sparks of war are flying

This briefer explains the lack of progress since the election, in light of continued political repression, escalating armed conflict and ongoing human right violations. It calls on ASEAN to take immediate action to address these issues in its member country and set an example for the region […]

Open Letter to ASEAN: Combat impunity and support a Commission of Inquiry into international crimes in Burma

Your Excellencies,

On the eve of the 44th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma) and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) strongly call on your government to support the creation of a United Nations Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into ongoing international crimes in Burma, as recommended by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Burma, Mr Tomás Ojea Quintana […]

Burma: War Crimes Against Convict Porters

Rampant Abuse of Prison Labor Shows Need for UN Inquiry

The Burmese army’s abusive treatment of convicts who are forced to serve as porters under dangerous front-line conditions constitutes war crimes, Human Rights Watch and the Karen Human Rights Group said in a joint report released today […]