ND-Burma Releases Periodic Report on the Human Rights Situation in Burma

The Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma) today released its latest Periodic Report documenting human rights violations in Burma from January to July of this year.

Over this period, ND-Burma has documented a total of 352 human rights violations. In the areas where cases were gathered, forced labor, confiscation or destruction of property, torture and inhumane or degrading treatment are among the most prevalent human rights violations […]

SPDC and DKBA order documents: January 2009 to June 2010

This report includes translated copies of 94 order documents issued by State Peace and Development Council Army and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army officers to village heads in Karen State between January 2009 and June 2010. These documents serve as supplementary evidence of ongoing exploitative local governance in rural Burma. The order documents collected here include demands for attendance at meetings; the provision of money and food; the production and delivery of thatch shingles and bamboo poles; forced labour as messengers and porters for the military; forced labour on bridge repair, the provision of information on individuals and households; and restrictions on trade […]

Burma regime continues to target civilians, UK tells UN Security Council

The British government has told the United Nations Security Council that Burma’s military dictatorship continues to target civilians, particularly from ethnic minorities, during a debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict on 7th July 2010[…]

Trafficking in Persons Report 2010

The 2010 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report marks the 10th anniversary of key milestones in the fight against modern slavery. It ranks countries according to minimum standards. Burma is ranked as one of 13 “Tier 3” countries that fail to meet these minimum standards in fighting the crime of human trafficking […]

Attacks on cardamom plantations, detention and forced labour in Toungoo District

This field report documents recent human rights abuses committed by SPDC soldiers against Karen villagers in Toungoo District. Villagers in SPDC-controlled areas continue to face heavy forced labour demands that severely constrain their livelihoods […]

The UN Singles Out Big Oil in Burma, With Good Reason

By Matthew Smith, Coordinator of the Burma Project, EarthRights International

In a surprising report last month to the UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Rapporteur (UNSR) on human rights Tomás Quintana recommended an official “commission of inquiry” into possible crimes against humanity and war crimes in military-ruled Burma (Myanmar).

Although the call for such a commission was widely covered in media and policy circles, a critical section of the report went completely overlooked and unreported: Quintana actually became the first UNSR to take specific aim at the ruling State Peace and Development Council’s corporate partners, singling out problematic foreign oil companies operating in the country […]

Salween Rally Calls on Burma’s Neighbors to Halt Dam Plans

Hundreds of villagers from both Burma and Thailand joined affected peoples from around the world in marking International Day of Action for Rivers yesterday as plans by China, Thailand and India steam ahead to dam all of Burma’s major rivers.

Five hundred farmers and fisher-folk gathered on the Salween River and shared their concerns about the impending construction of five massive dams planned on the river with performances and prayers to protect the Salween. […]

2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Burma

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

Burma, with an estimated population of 54 million, is ruled by a highly authoritarian military regime dominated by the majority ethnic Burman group. The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), led by Senior General Than Shwe, was the country’s de facto government. Military officers wielded the ultimate authority at each level of government. […]

Forced Labor, Movement and Trade Restrictions in Toungoo District

This field report documents the continuing and worsening demands for forced labour and restrictions on movement and trade imposed on villagers in Toungoo District by the SPDC army.  These exploitative and restrictive practices undermine the livelihoods of both individuals living under SPDC control and villagers who have opted to live in hiding.  Heavy demands for […]

Joint Press Release on Forced Labour

The Federation of Trade Unions-Burma (FTUB) and Federation of Trade Unions-Kawthoolei (FTUK) strongly condemn the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the Burmese army and the local authorities for the continuous use of forced labor throughout the country, in violation of the ILO Convention 29 and of the SPDC/ILO agreement. FTUB and FTUK highlight fresh […]