Myanmar: Prisoners of Conscience Released in Amnesty but Scores Remain Behind Bars

The release of at least 11 prisoners of conscience in a mass prisoner amnesty in Myanmar today is a step in the right direction, but authorities must immediately clear the country’s jails of the scores of peaceful activists who still remain behind bars, Amnesty International said […]

How to Defend the Defenders? A Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in Burma and Appropriate Protection Mechanisms

HRD Report Testimonies and reports from inside the country have painted a very different picture to the new tolerant and free Burma that the Burma Government wants the world to see. Those who try to defend human rights, or question the power or narrative of the Burma Government — and their military and corporate backers —now seem to be operating in as dangerous an environment as ever […]

Activist Su Su Nway Arrested for Trespassing

RANGOON — Labor rights activist Su Su Nway was arrested on Thursday on charges of trespassing in relation to her support for farmers claiming their lands had been seized by the military […]

The Burma Government Must Unconditionally and Immediately Release Naw Ohn Hla

The Karen Women’s Organization (“KWO”) and Karen Women’s Empowerment Group (“KWEG”) call for the immediate and unconditional release of Naw Ohn Hla, imprisoned in Burma for the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression and opinion […]

AAPP calls for adequate healthcare for political prisoners in Burma

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), also known as AAPP, has received reports over recent months regarding the deterioration of the health of several political prisoners in Burma’s prisons, raising serious concerns […]

Ethnic Leader Demands Prisoner Releases

The chairman of the Pa-O National Liberation Organisation Khun Myint Tun said that the release of prisoners would be negotiated with the government before signing the nationwide ceasefire agreement […]

Statement No. (7/2015) The Visit to Maing-Sat Prison in Shan State

A team from the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission comprising of members U Zaw Win, Dr.Daw Than Nwe and Assistant Director Dr. Zay Yar Soe from the Commission’s Office visited the Maing-Sat prison in Shan State on the 7 of May 2015. During the visit, the team inspected the sleeping quarters and the records of the prison. Interviews were also conducted with prisoners and detainees on an individual basis. The team found out that the prison was holding detainees and prisoners in excess of the capacity of the prison. They also observed that the prison’s dispensary has no bed for the inpatients and vacancies for the post of Assistant Doctor and medical personnel vacancies have yet to be filled in accordance with the organizational set up. Although the prison was a “C” category type prison, prisoners who have been sentenced to prison terms for more than 10 years are detained in this prison. The cells designated for long-term prisoners have no covers on the latrines. Two prisoners who have been imprisoned have been found to come from a very distant destination. It was also observed by the team that the sleeping quarters of the detainees are prone to lashings from the rain during the rainy season. For long-term female prisoners, there are 2 cells reserved for them but both cells have no latrines, washing facilities and corridors. It was observed by the team that there are two under trial detainees who have been under detention for more than 6 months. Five prisoners/detainees have also been found to be above the age of seventy years. There are no facilities for meditation and no vocational trainings have been given. Turning their attention to the kitchen, the team noticed that rice has been cooked with tin drums which are not very hygienic […]

World Press Freedom Day or World Press Restrictions Day?

Sunday 3 May, 2015 was World Press Freedom Day and the Burma Army embraced the sentiment of this day by issuing a gaging order on the media, aimed at stopping them from reporting on statements by the ethnic armed group, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) with which the Burma Army is at war with. Meanwhile, 12 journalists remain in prison, demonstrating why the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) designated Burma as the 9^th most censored country in the world.

Five of the most high profile incarcerated media workers, four journalists and the chief executive officer of the Unity Journal, have been in prison since reporting on a secret chemical weapons factory of the Burma Army in January 2014. They are serving seven years with hard labor after being charged under the colonial-era State Secrets Act. International human rights group, Amnesty International, brought attention to this issue on World Press Freedom Day, encouraging supporters to post ‘#FreeUnityFive’ on the Burma Government’s Information Minister’s Facebook wall. It is not just the Unity five that are in prison. Seven more media workers spent World Press Freedom Day without their freedom, including five from the Bi-Midday Sun newspaper and two from the Myanmar Post Weekly […]

Drop The Charges: Labour Activists Arrested For Demanding A $1 Pay Rise

Burma Campaign UK today called for the immediate and unconditional release of two union leaders, Naing Htay Lwin and Myo Min Min. They were arrested in February 2015 for protesting without the Burmese government’s permission […]

Statement No. (5/2015) The visit by the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission team to the prisons and detention centres in Sittwe and Buthidaung townships in Rakhine

1. A team from the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission comprising members U Zaw Win, Dr.Nyan Zaw, Daw Mya Mya and staff visited the prisons and detention centres in Sittwe and Buthidaung townships in Rakhine State from 2-6 April 2015 […]