Open Letter to EU Foreign Ministers and EU High Representative

On behalf of the Institute for Human Rights and Business, we are writing to urge you and your fellow European Foreign Ministers to make clear that respect for international human rights standards is integral to future trade with and investment in Myanmar […]

Burma “Not Open for Business” Investor Network Says

Amid reports that the recent elections in Burma will lead to relaxation of international sanctions, a briefing paper released today by the Conflict Risk Network (CRN) warns investors that high risks remain despite initial reforms by President Thein Sein and the electoral victory of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi […]

Not Open for Business: Despite Elections, Investor Risk Remains High in Burma

The April 1 Burmese by-elections are being heralded as a great success both for the people of Burma and for the international community after more than a decade of sanctions. While there is cause to celebrate in the wake of initial reforms by President Thein Sein and the electoral victory of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, high levels of risk for investors – and the people of Burma – remain […]

Burma Sanctions Suspension – Timelines and Benchmarks Needed

Burma Campaign UK today welcomed an announcement by British Prime Minister David Cameron that Britain will not support EU sanctions against Burma being lifted. He has proposed sanctions be suspended instead. Germany and other EU members had been pushing for all sanctions except the arms embargo to be lifted immediately […]

NLD’s Victory A Step Forward But Sanctions Must be Maintained Until Genuine Reforms Under Way

The past week has seen much celebrating from people throughout Burma and around the world over the election of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and 42 additional members of the National League for Democracy. These results marked a moment of excitement and hope for the people of Burma. However, the many irregularities in the process and the continued numerous restrictions on people’s fundamental freedoms demonstrate that a great deal more progress needs to be made on Burma’s path towards genuine democracy.

As Soe Aung, Deputy Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Forum for Democracy in Burma, noted in an opinion piece earlier this week, “[G]enuine change must be defined by bold institutional, legislative and policy reforms that can decisively create a truly democratic, inclusive and accountable government based on the rule of law and respect for all human rights. For the majority of people in Burma, there has been little real change. The quasi-civilian administration has made small gestures calculated to generate maximum excitement in the international community with minimum cost to high-ranking officials and their cronies.” […]

Recognizing and Supporting Burma’s Democratic Reforms

From the beginning of this Administration, we have pursued a policy of engagement to support human rights and reform in Burma. We knew that the challenges were great, but we also believed that a new approach was needed to support the aspirations of the people […]

AIPMC Welcomes Election of NLD Members to Myanmar’s Parliament but Warns that Lifting of Sanctions Poses a Threat to Reform Process

The ASEAN Inter Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) today congratulated the people of Myanmar on the successful exercising of their democratic rights in Sunday’s by election but warned the international community that the lifting of sanctions […]

Wikileaks: Junta Crony Brokered Ivanhoe’s Burma Sale to Chinese Arms Firm

Newly disclosed American diplomatic cables made available by Wikileaks show that infamous Burmese regime crony Tay Za served as a broker in a series of transactions that saw Ivanhoe Mines 50% stake in Burma’s largest copper project […]

Crucial Benchmarks Must Be Met Before Sanctions Fully Lifted

On 23 January, the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union decided to lift the visa bans on Burma’s top government officials, including President Thein Sein, the vice-presidents, ministers and speakers of the two houses of Parliament. In its statement, the Council praised the recent reforms made by Thein Sein’s government while ignoring the serious issues that have not yet been addressed, including ongoing armed conflict and grave human rights abuses in ethnic nationality areas, continued detention of hundreds of political prisoners, and failure to make critical political, economic and legal reforms.

Contrary to the Council’s statement, Thein Sein’s government has not made enough effort to engage ethnic nationalities in the political process. While there have been ceasefires reached with some armed ethnic groups and initial steps taken towards agreements with the Karen National Union and Kachin Independence Organization, the government has not shown the willingness to address the underlying political issues of ethnic equality and self-determination. Furthermore, the Burma Army continues to deploy troops, engage in battle with the Kachin Independence Army and attack civilians fleeing from fighting, giving reasons to doubt the government’s sincerity in achieving peace […]

Analysis of EU Conclusions on Burma

On 23rd January 2012 the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union met and adopted conclusions about the current situation in Burma, including suspending implementation […]