Human Rights Violations in Burma’s 2010 Elections

Despite restrictive conditions, human rights groups, political organizations, media and ethnic groups from both inside and outside of Burma (including ND- Burma) managed to collect information on violations related to the 2010 elections. As a human rights network, ND-Burma monitored the elections primarily in terms of human rights violations. The findings of this report demonstrate the elections-related human rights violations are consistent with the ongoing violations committed by the military personnel and their proxies as they carry out military campaigns, as they secure areas for development projects, and whenever and wherever civilians dare to challenge the military’s illegitimate authority […]

Farmland Confiscation and Labour Exploitation: The Critical Conditions of the Lives of the Toiling Mass

Confiscation of farmland and exploitation of labour do not only amount to being invaded by the military government and its cronies. The farmers whose social and economic life dependent upon the land are subjected to being treated like slaves as well […]

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 […]

Denmark and Latvia Support UN Burma Inquiry

Two more European countries have expressed support for international investigations into human rights abuses in Burma, following protests in London targeting six European countries. Latvia stated it supports a UN Commission of Inquiry; ‘in principle’, while Denmark stated it; ‘supports in principle the establishment of an international investigation into human rights abuses in Burma […]

84,000 Karen Civilians Call on Ban Ki-moon to Help Stop Attacks in Burma

On Monday 28 February 2011, a petition signed by 84,000 Ethnic Karen civilians will be handed in the office of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and other world leaders, including British Prime Minister David Cameron and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The petition delivery will take place in 8 countries including Japan, Norway, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Canada. This petition is endorsed by 30 Karen organizations from 15 countries around the world and it is the first time a Karen petition will be delivered to world leaders […]

Thailand/India/Indonesia: Rohingyas at risk need protection

Hundreds of Rohingyas fleeing systematic persecution in Myanmar require immediate assistance from Thailand, India, and Indonesia […]

Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn. Bhd must respect Human Rights and Worker Rights

Reinstate Thiha Soe and Aung San Without Loss of Benefits

We, the undersigned 77 organizations, groups and networks are shocked at how Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn Bhd has unjustly treated its workers, in particular the 31 Burmese Migrant Workers, working at the factory at Lot 3377, Jalan Perusahaan Utama, Taman Industri Selesa Jaya, 43300 Balakong, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia […]

Civil Society Criticizes ASEAN for Turning a Blind Eye to Human Rights Violations in Burma

Burma’s civil society today delivered an open letter signed by forty organizations and individuals to ASEAN heads of states expressing their extreme disappointment with the statements presented by ASEAN delegates at the Interactive Dialogue of Burma’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on 27 January 2011 in Geneva.

“Burma remains one of the worst rights violators in the world,” said Aung Myo Min, coordinator of the Task Force on ASEAN and Burma and representative of the Burma Forum-UPR. “Despite this, statements from ASEAN delegates failed to acknowledge the severity of rights violations in Burma or the regime’s role as the main perpetrator of widespread and systematic human rights violations.”[…]

Release over 2200 Political Prisoners NOW!

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has released a report titled, “Release Over 2200 Political Prisoners NOW!” This report is an effort of 12 groups working inside Burma to promote democracy, human rights and national reconciliation. The 12 groups took a great risk and operated in secret to contribute to the release of this report due to the repressive and highly dangerous environment facing human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists in Burma […]