Statement (8/2012) of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission on the International Human Rights Day

One of the most important declarations of humanity, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was adopted on 10 December, 1948 and the day has been designated as the International Human Rights Day.

The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission joins today the international human rights community in celebrating this auspicious day […]

Free U Gambira! British Government Must Take Action

Burma Campaign UK today urged the Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire MP to make the unconditional release of U Gambira and all the remaining political prisoners one of his main priorities on his visit to Burma next week.

Despite increasing human rights violations in Burma, the main purpose of Hugo Swire’s visit is to lead a trade mission, not promote human rights. Burma Campaign UK is urging Hugo Swire MP to insist on visiting U Gambira in jail to assess where he is being held and that he has access to medical care and medicines […]

Myanmar: UN Expert Greets Latest Commitments On Human Rights

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, welcomed today the latest commitments from the Government of Myanmar on human rights as significant steps forward in the ongoing reform process […]

Burma: Release of Detainees Welcome, But Questions Remain

The Asian Human Rights Commission welcomes the release yesterday of a few dozen political detainees in the latest amnesty announced by the government of Burma, as well as the other initiatives contained in an official news release of 18 November 2002, in particular […]

“The Political Prisoners Game”

As US President Barack Obama visited Burma today, the Thein Sein government continues to pursue positive headlines in a cynical move to release political prisoners at the same time as Obama’s arrival.

Last Thursday’s release of 452 prisoners was a huge disappointment as no political prisoners were among them, with the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners calling it “the worst amnesty ever”. Today, 19 November, however, at the time of publication 45 political prisoners have been released. This ploy by the government usually coincides with a visit of an international figure or a decision made by the international community on Burma. In September, 87 political prisoners were released the week before President Thein Sein went to New York for the UN General Assembly. In July, 25 political prisoners were released shortly before the US lifted its investment ban and Thein Sein met with US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, in Cambodia. This time, it is because President Obama is coming to Burma. “It seems there is a new game in Burma, which is the political prisoners game,” Phil Robertson from Human Rights Watch stated, highlighting the lack of integrity of these releases […]

AAPP Cautiously Welcomes Release, Urges Thein Sein to Officially Recognize Existence of Political Prisoners

AAPP cautiously welcomes the presidential order that resulted in the release of 51 political prisoners, as of 5 p.m. on 19 November. The releases were strategically timed to coincide with US President Obama’s historic visit to Burma […]

Statement by the United Nationalities Alliance

We, the United Nationalities Alliance, observe Burma’s transition to democracy is not up to the standard yet. We believe that it is still early to lift all the sanctions imposed while in a transition period as hundreds of political prisoners still remain in jail.

We believe that only getting ceasefire agreements with armed groups does not guarantee lasting peace until and unless political problems are solved with political means […]

Credible Review Mechanism Needed for Remaining Political Prisoners

Today the military-backed government in Burma released around 50 political prisoners. Two of the released activists had been highlighted as part of Burma Campaign UK’s campaign, No Political Prisoner Left Behind, which highlights a political prisoner case every month […]

Innocent Civilians Remain in Burma’s Jails – Free Brang Yung and Lanpai Gam!

They were arrested in June 2012 and charged under Article 17/1 of the Unlawful Association Act. Their trials are still continuing at Myitkyina court in Kachin State. They were brutally tortured during interrogations; they were repeatedly beaten, forced to drink water mixed with fuel, burnt and forced to have sexual intercourse with each other

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar was established by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 1992/58 and extended most recently by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 19/21 […]