BROUK Condemns Sentencing 63 Rohingyas on Immigration Charge

We at BROUK strongly condemn the sentencing of 63 innocent Rohingya boat people to one and a half years each by a Burmese court, under immigration law, after their boat ended up on the shores of southern Burma. According to our reliable source they were left stranded at sea by their agent 16 kilometers from the coastal town of Kawthaung in Tennasserim division […]

Demonstration Calling for Chinese Government to Participate in Restoring Freedom and Human Rights in Burma and North Korea

To mark International Human Rights Day, people from the Burmese community, North Korean community and many supporters stand together to call for justice and freedom in both countries. Burma Campaign UK and Christian Solidarity Worldwide have organised this demonstration today […]

Ensure Human Rights, People’s Participation and Economic Justice in Democratization

NGO Press Release in conjunction with the 4th Bali Democracy Forum

Democracy in Asia will remain hollow if human rights, people’s participation and economic justice are not ensured in the process, warned a group of democracy and human rights advocates in the region who gathered in Bali for a civil society conference on democracy prior to the opening of the Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) IV on December 8-9 […]

Final Statement of the Regional Consultation on Democratisation and People’s Participation in Asia

We, the representatives from civil society organisations of 16 Asian countries, gather here on 6 and 7 December 2011 in conjunction with the 4th Bali Democracy Forum to critically assess the situation and highlight challenges to democratization and human rights in Asia […]

Clinton’s Historic Trip to Burma Highlights Need for Continued Sanctions

At the beginning of her historical visit to Burma last Wednesday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “I came to assess whether the time is right for a new chapter in our shared history.” After a 3-day visit to the country, it seems like the US hopes to use a policy of deeper engagement with Burma as a way to bring more reforms and ensure that the “flickers of change” that President Obama mentioned are fanned “into flames of freedom that light the path toward a better future.” This strategy seems to be shared by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who told Clinton, “If we go forward together, I’m confident there will be no turning back from the road to democracy. We are not on that road yet, but we hope to get there as soon as possible with our friends.”

In her press conference when leaving the country, Secretary Clinton said that the regime must do more for the US to start the new chapter of the two countries’ history […]

Under Siege in Kachin State, Burma

In September 2011, PHR conducted an investigation in Burma’s Kachin State in response to reports of grave human rights violations in the region. PHR found that between June and September 2011, the Burmese army looted food from civilians, fired indiscriminately into villages, threatened villages with attacks, and used civilians as porters and human minesweepers […]

Freedom House Urges Secretary Clinton to Push for Genuine Political Transformation in Burma

In advance of the first visit by a United States Secretary of State to Burma in 50 years, Freedom House urges Secretary Hillary Clinton to seize this critical moment and push for greater human rights and democratic reforms in the country […]

Clinton’s visit should be measured in human rights improvement

The success of the US Secretary of State’s visit to Burma should be measured on whether the authorities respond immediately by undertaking bold and far-reaching human rights reforms, Amnesty International said in a statement today […]

Clinton Must Prioritize Release of Political Prisoners and Human Rights Abuses on Visit to Burma

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to arrive in Burma this Wednesday, 30 November, for the first visit by an American Secretary of State to the country in more than fifty years. In announcing her visit, US President Barack Obama has focused on positive developments in Burma, referring to “flickers of progress” but he also recognized that “there’s far more to be done” and that the possibility of establishing closer ties between Burma and the United States “will depend upon the Burmese government taking more concrete action.”

While many have welcomed the visit by Secretary Clinton, it is crucial that during her time in Burma, she prioritize putting pressure on the regime to bring an end to the decades of human rights abuses perpetrated against civilians throughout the country. Despite the “flickers of progress” that President Obama highlighted in his speech, the reality is that in many ways human rights abuses have escalated since President Thein Sein took office […]

Secretary Clinton Urged to Prioritize Securing An End to Burmese Army’s Crimes against Humanity by 12 Human Rights Organizations and One Individual in the United States

Today the U.S. Campaign for Burma (USCB) and 11 other respected human rights organizations and one individual in the United States sent an open letter to Secretary Clinton to strongly urge her to prioritize securing an end to the egregious crimes against humanity […]