Burma: UN Envoy Should ‘Not Pay Courtesy Call’

Visit Should Highlight Political Prisoners and Military Abuses

United Nations special envoy on Burma Vijay Nambiar should speak out against the absence of meaningful human rights reform in Burma since the November elections, Human Rights Watch said today […]

Burma: Army Should Act to End Abuses

Top Military Lawyer Should Support UN Commission of Inquiry

The Burmese military leadership should adopt measures to end abuses and ensure that those responsible are held accountable, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to the judge advocate general of the Burmese Armed Forces, Maj. Gen. Yar Pyae. In the letter, sent to coincide with Burma’s 66th Armed Forces Day on March 27, 2011, Human Rights Watch called on the judge advocate general, the military’s chief legal officer, to publicly order all members of the armed forces to abide by international human rights and humanitarian law […]

Q & A on an International Commission of Inquiry

In March 2010, the United Nations special rapporteur for human rights in Burma, Tomás Ojea Quintana, called on the UN to consider the possibility of establishing a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into crimes in violation of international law committed in Burma. Thus far, 16 states have endorsed this call to address systematic, widespread, and serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. Such abuses include war crimes and possible crimes against humanity by the Burmese armed forces and non-state armed groups.

Human Rights Watch calls on relevant UN bodies to establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate reports of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Burma by all parties, and to identify the perpetrators of such violations with a view to ensuring that those responsible are held accountable […]

World Report 2011: Burma

Burma’s human rights situation remained dire in 2010, even after the country’s first multiparty elections in 20 years. The ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) continued to systematically deny all basic freedoms to citizens and sharply constrained political participation. The rights of freedom of expression, association, assembly, and media remained severely curtailed. The government took no significant steps during the year to release more than 2,100 political prisoners being held, except for the November 13 release of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi […]

Burma: UN Should Tackle Rights Crisis as New Parliament Convenes

Junta Window Dressing Ahead of First UN Rights Review

The review of Burma’s human rights record at the United Nations this week should reflect reality and not the false promises of the military, Human Rights Watch said today.

Burma will face its first-ever Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in the Human Rights Council in Geneva on January 27, a process all member states must undergo every four years to ascertain each country’s progress on human rights […]

Burma: Eyewitness Accounts of Abuses in Eastern Fighting

Thai Authorities Should Ensure Protection of Refugees Fleeing Conflict

The Burmese armed forces and ethnic insurgents should act to protect civilians as fighting in eastern Burma intensifies, Human Rights Watch said today. The Burmese army, or Tatmadaw, has conducted a major build up in the East following an attack and brief seizure of the border town of Myawaddy by ethnic Karen rebels on the date of the elections, November 7, 2010 […]

EU: Act on UN Inquiry Into International Crimes in Burma

Special Rapporteur’s Report Bolsters Call for Justice

Governments concerned about war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma should move beyond mere condemnation and establish a United Nations commission of inquiry as follow-up to a UN expert’s report on Burma released today, Human Rights Watch said today. In a letter to European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton released today, Human Rights Watch called for Ashton and the EU to back the report of the UN special rapporteur on Burma, Thomas Quintana, and show leadership in support of a commission of inquiry […]

Indonesia: Press For Justice in Burma

The Indonesian government should publicly support the establishment of a United Nations Commission of Inquiry for Burma, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa.

“Indonesia should show leadership among Asian nations in supporting accountability efforts for serious human rights abuses committed by all parties in Burma” […]

US/ASEAN: Three Years After Crackdown, No Justice in Burma

US and Southeast Asian leaders meeting in New York this week should press the Burmese government to end an escalating campaign of repression, release political prisoners, and begin a dialogue with opposition groups ahead of Burma’s coming flawed elections, Human Rights Watch said today. September marks the third anniversary of the brutal 2007 crackdown on peaceful protests led by monks and known as the “Saffron Revolution.”

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.