CSW Urges International Community to Highlight Plight of Ethnic Nationalities in Engagement with Burmese Regime

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) today expressed concern that the plight of Burma’s ethnic nationalities is being neglected in the process of engagement with Burma’s regime. CSW particularly highlights continuing severe violations of human rights, including the use of rape […]

In a Premature Nod to Burma, ASEAN Misses a Chance to Drive Real Change

Last weekend, the Arab League voted to suspend Syria from its meetings and impose sanctions on the Damascus regime. The vote came after Syria ignored the regional institution’s calls for the release of prisoners, an immediate end to killings and violence and talks with opposition forces.

While the Arab League took such a strong decision, another regional group, ASEAN, has shied away from its responsibility to protect civilians and promote peace, security and justice in one of its member states […]

Report on the Human Rights Situation in Burma – January to September 2011

The periodic report of the Network for Human Rights Documentation–Burma (ND-Burma) documents the human rights situation in Burma during the period January–September 2011. The ND-Burma periodic reports provide up-to-date information on human rights violations (HRVs) and highlight pressing issues and trends within the country. The information gathered covers 16 categories of human rights violations (HRVs), documented in all 14 states and regions across Burma […]

ND-Burma Periodic Report demonstrates that human rights situation in Burma remains dire

The Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma) has released a periodic report which has documented the human rights situations in Burma during the period January – September 2011. The report documents 261 cases of human rights violations committed by the government and its supporters in the 14 states and regions throughout Burma […]

Summary of the Public Hearing on Human Rights Abuses in Burma

Civilians in conflict areas ofBurmaface gross human rights abuses on a daily basis. The situation since the November 2010 elections has not improved. While there may be some changes in the political situation in Naypyidaw andRangoon, civilians in conflict areas are seeing no evidence of change […]

Upcoming Public Hearing and Seminar on Human Rights Abuses in Burma

Burma Partnership, in collaboration with SAPA Working Group on ASEAN, Task Force on ASEAN and Burma, KontraS and Solidaritas Indonesia for ASEAN People, are holding two events in Jakarta, Indonesia, this coming Monday: a Public Hearing on Human Rights Abuses and a Seminar on the Human Rights Situation in Burma. These back-to-back events come one year after Burma’s elections in 2010 and less than two weeks before ASEAN is expected to announce a decision on Burma’s bid to chair the regional bloc in 2014. They will also highlight the urgent need for a Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in the country.

Read more about these events here.

Burma: A Year After Elections, Rights Concerns Persist

Positive actions by Burma’s new government should not obscure the serious human rights problems persisting in the country one year after the November 2010 elections, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released on November 3, 2011 […]

Civil Society to Hold Public Hearing and Seminar on Human Rights Abuses in Burma

Civil society organizations from Burma and the ASEAN region will be holding a public hearing on human rights abuses and a seminar on the human rights situation in Burma. These back-to-back events come one year after Burma’s elections in 2010 and less than two weeks before […]

Japan: Press Burma’s Foreign Minister on Rights

Political Prisoners, Not Just Aid and Trade, Should Top Agenda

Japanese officials should press Burma’s visiting foreign minister on the need for genuine reforms to improve human rights in Burma, Human Rights Watch said today. Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin will visit Tokyo from October 20 to 22, 2011.

Wunna Maung Lwin’s visit to Japan is the first by a foreign minister from Burma in 16 years. His meetings with Japanese officials are expected to include discussion of increased development assistance and possible trade agreements […]

Open Letter to Indonesian Government as the Chair of ASEAN on Gross Human Rights Violations in Burma

Your Excellency,

We, members of the Solidarity for Asian People’s Advocacy (SAPA, a network of Asian civil society organisations engaged intergovernmental processes at the sub-regional, regional and international level, working on various issues of public interest), write to you today, in view of the fact that Indonesia is currently serving as the Chair of ASEAN, to share our continued concern about gross human rights violations in Burma/Myanmar ahead of your mission to the country on 26 October 2011 […]