Major Step to End Decades-Long Cycle of Political Arrests

(New York, April 12, 2016) – The new Burmese government, led by the National League for Democracy (NLD), has taken a major step in releasing approximately 200 political prisoners and detainees, Human Rights Watch said today […]

The Political Persecution and Re-imprisonment of U Gambira 2016

U Gambira (born 19 June 1979), is a former Buddhist monk, activist and a leader of the All-Burma Monks’ Alliance, a group which helped lead the 2007 protests against Burma’s military government […]

Burma: Election Points Path to Rights Progress

(New York, January 27, 2016) – Burma’s peaceful elections were the high point of a year that saw the overall human rights situation in the country stagnate, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2016. The opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) under Aung San Suu Kyi won an overwhelming victory in structurally […]

Burma: Political Prisoner Amnesty Falls Short

(New York) ­– Yesterday’s limited release of political prisoners in Burma leaves many others in prison and is undermined by the ongoing arrests and imprisonment of activists, with hundreds still facing trial, Human Rights Watch said today. Burma’s international supporters should demand the release of all remaining political prisoners and an end to politically motivated arrests and trials […]

Burma: Growing Political Prisoner Population

(Bangkok) ­– Burmese authorities should immediately drop all politically motivated charges against hundreds of detainees and unconditionally release them, Human Rights Watch said today. President Thein Sein should fulfill pledges he made over three years ago to free all of the country’s political prisoners […]

Burma: Brazen Bid for Presidential Immunity

(New York, December 23, 2015) ­– Burma’s parliament should reject a proposed law that would shield former presidents from prosecution for crimes committed during their terms in office, Human Rights Watch said today.

Published in the state-run newspaper on December 21, 2015, the Former Presidents Security Bill grants immunity to former heads of state “from any prosecution for actions during his term.” Outlined in article 10, this provision would protect former presidents from domestic prosecution for even the most serious crimes committed while in office, including war crimes and crimes against humanity […]

Burma: Election Fundamentally Flawed

(Rangoon, November 4, 2015) ­– Burma’s parliamentary election slated for November 8, 2015, is fundamentally flawed, depriving Burmese of their right to freely elect their government, Human Rights Watch said today […]

Human Rights Watch: Activists Charged for Mocking Military Online

(New York) – Burmese authorities should immediately release two people arrested this week for posting images on social media mocking the military, Human Rights Watch said today. The arrests took place in the run-up to the November 8, 2015 elections, with the military firmly in charge behind the scenes […]

Dispatches: Militias and Electoral Intimidation in Burma

With a little more than a month to go before Burma’s national elections, military aligned militia units are casting a dark shadow over the polls. These proxies, known as Pyithu Sit (People’s Militias) and Neh San Tat (Border Guard Forces) are intimidating voters in Burma’s ethnic-minority borderlands and are stopping candidates from campaigning. This exacerbates the problems in some regions, where ongoing fighting between government forces and ethnic armed groups will prevent voting from taking place […]

Burma: Protect, Not Target, Gay People

(New York) – Burma’s government should publicly condemn grossly discriminatory remarks by a regional official about gay men and transgender women, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to senior Burmese officials. The Burmese government is obligated under international law to protect all people in the country regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity […]