Burma: Visit to the India-Burma Border

“We have been ruled by the army for 48 years. The army has killed our hopes.” – A Chin pastor

“The elections amount to nothing more than a change of clothes for the military. They are completely unacceptable.” – A Chin refugee

In eastern Burma, the regime is carrying out military offensives against ethnic civilians, resulting in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people and rape, torture, forced labour and killings. Civilians, including women, children and the elderly, are sometimes shot at point-blank range. In western and northern Burma, the regime is also cruelly suppressing the ethnic nationalities, although the tactics vary […]

Clarification

In the morning news of November 25, 2010, broadcast by Radio Free Asia, it was stated that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi did not endorse the attempts made overseas to bring the Generals of the Junta to the international criminal court for crimes against humanity by quoting the November 23 issue of the New York Times […]

Momentum Grows Behind Calls for a UN Commission of Inquiry to Investigate Burma’s Crimes Against Humanity

International support is growing for the establishment of a United Nations Commission of Inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity in Burma. In recent days France, Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand have added their support, and a total of ten governments are now calling for an inquiry. The United States, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Australia and Hungary have already expressed their support.

Japan: Press Burma for Justice

Japan should publicly support the establishment of an international Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma, Human Rights Watch and five other nongovernmental organizations said in a letter to Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara made public today.

NDF Support Recommendation for Forming UN Commission of Inquiry

1. The NDF has earnestly welcome and supported recommendation to the UN by its Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Situation in Burma (Myanmar), Mr. Tomás Ojea Quintana, to form a Commission of Inquiry (COI) for crimes against humanity and war crimes perpetrated by the SPDC military clique. The NDF is ready to cooperate fully with such a UN COI.[…]

France supports a Commission of Inquiry

FIDH, Human Rights Watch, Info-Birmanie and French Human Rights League demand the set-up of an international commission of inquiry

They welcome France’s statement and urge the EU to support this initiative at the UN General Assembly[…]

Philippines: Press For Justice in Burma

The Philippine government should publicly support the establishment of an international Commission of Inquiry for Burma, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to President Benigno Aquino III.[…]

It Is AICHR’s Turn to Move Forward to Promote and Protect Human Rights in Southeast Asia

On the issue of Burma, we remain deeply concerned that AICHR has stayed silent on the ongoing widespread and systematic violations of human rights that constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes, as defined by international law. These violations include torture, extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, forced labour and the recruitment of child soldiers, and are committed in a pervasive culture of impunity […]

Human Rights Council holds General Debate on Human Rights Situations that require the Council’s attention

[…]JEAN-BAPTISTE MATTEI (France) In Burma, 1,200 prisoners were still not liberated. Human rights were still systematically violated and France expressed its support for the Special Rapporteur’s recommendation to establish an international commission of inquiry.[…]

6 – 12 September: Impunity Prevails after Two Youths Killed in Pegu

On 4 September, two youths were shot execution style in Pegu, north-east of Rangoon. The incident took place shortly after midnight when the youths were involved in a minor traffic accident with a motorbike carrying two military officers. One eye-witness reported, “After arguing with local youngsters, about 10 soldiers, including officers, came back to the town with arms, looking for the young men they had had problems with. The soldiers found them near a local teashop and shot them after more arguing.” The youths were identified as Aung Thu Hein, 22, and Soe Paing Zaw, 18.[…]