AIPMC Meets with Zarganar, Reiterates Call for Release of All Political Prisoners in Myanmar

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) today reiterated its call for the immediate release of all political prisoners in Myanmar as a prerequisite for genuine democratic change in the Southeast Asian country […]

CSW Urges UK Foreign Secretary William Hague to Highlight Human Rights Violations in Ethnics States During Visit to Burma

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has today written to the British Foreign Secretary William Hague, welcoming his forthcoming visit to Burma next month and requesting him to use the opportunity to “urge the regime to stop attacking ethnic people, declare a nationwide […]

Rally in Chiang Mai draws several prominent ethnic activists, international media

The rally at the U.S. Consulate in Chiang Mai this morning attracted a large crowd, including international media and several prominent ethnic activists.

Organized by The Best Friend and We Are Burma to coincide with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Burma, the highest-level diplomatic exchange between the U.S. and Burma in 55 years, the purpose of the rally was to propel ethnic and political prisoner issues to the top of the agenda for all nations increasing engagement with the new regime in Burma […]

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 […]

CSW Urges US Secretary of State to Highlight Human Rights Violations in Ethnic States During Visit to Burma

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has today written to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, welcoming her forthcoming visit to Burma and requesting her to use the opportunity to “urge the regime to stop attacking ethnic people, declare a nationwide ceasefire […]

Ban Ki-moon Urged to Press for Release of all Political Prisoners in Burma

In the past 24 hours, supporters of Burma Campaign UK have sent more than 1,000 email messages to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon ahead of his meeting with President Thein Sein of Burma later this week […]

ASEAN: Set Benchmarks for Burma on Rights

Press Government to Free Political Prisoners, End Impunity for War Crimes

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should set clear human rights benchmarks for Burma as a condition for its chairmanship of the regional grouping in 2014, Human Rights Watch said today […]

Calling the Regime’s Bluff

In a press conference today, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi spoke about the expected release of political prisoners and refrained from answering any questions about whether the National League for Democracy (NLD) would re-register as a political party. The party has recently held several internal meetings to discuss the pending decision about re-registration and the possibility of running in the by-elections to be held before the end of the year, and will meet again on 18 November. At the moment, it remains unclear what the NLD will decide.

While there has been a lack of transparency around the recent meetings between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the regime, the two sides appear to be on unequal playing fields. It seems probable that the two sides have been negotiating next steps, with the regime using the release of remaining political prisoners as a bargaining chip for the re-registration of the NLD […]