Human Rights Commissioner of Thailand Expresses Support for a Commission of Inquiry in Burma

The Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand has expressed his personal support for a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma, as an important mechanism to “check and balance the power and accountability of the military regime” […]

8.8.88: Burma’s Past + Future

The Free Burma VJ Campaign and the Best Friend Library on Saturday organised a special event to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of Burma’s nationwide pro-democracy uprising where shared information about new campaign developments.

The event took place at the Sangdee Gallery in Chiang Mai, and attracted around 90 people […]

Aung San Suu Kyi birthday surprise flash mob in Chiang Mai

This past weekend was significant for millions of Aung San Suu Kyi supporters all around the world, as 19 June 2011 was Daw Suu’s first birthday to be celebrated outside of house arrest in seven years. In Chiang Mai, Thailand, members of The Best Friend Library joined dozens of other activists from many other Burma-related organizations to perform in surprise ‘flash mobs’ in honor of Aung San Suu Kyi in busy locales across the city […]

Migrant Domestic Workers Celebrate News of the ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers

Burmese domestic workers are celebrating in Chiang Mai on hearing that today, June 16th 2011, the International Labour Organization has adopted Convention 189: Decent Work for Domestic Workers at the 100th Session of the ILO Conference. Said Hseng Moon, a domestic worker who has been working in Thailand for nearly ten years, “Well, I know that I’ve been working for many years, but now everybody knows that it was work! And hopefully that means we, domestic workers, will get some respect now” […]

Thai Labour Leader Petitions ILO in Geneva: “Systematic Abuse of Myanmar Migrant Workers in Thailand Breaches International Law”

Today (13th June) at 9am (GMT +1), Mr. Sawit Keawwan, General Secretary of Thailand’s State Enterprise Workers Relations Confederation (SERC), petitioned the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland. In a letter submitted to the ILO’s Committee of Experts, SERC stated Thailand is systematically violating international law by failing to protect rights of migrant workers from Myanmar […]

The Rocky Road to Interface

As of 1.30 p.m. on 7th of May 2011, the struggle to establish a genuine and meaningful dialogue between Civil Society and ASEAN’s Heads of Government at 4.00 p.m. today remains a stark and troubling reality. Up until 3.30 a.m. this morning (7th May 2011), the country delegates representing the peoples of ASEAN through the ACSC/APF process […]

Escalation of Civil War in Burma Necessitates Immediate Halt to Salween Dam Plans

Following recent heavy fighting in northern Shan State, all the planned Salween dam sites in Burma now lie directly in active conflict zones. The Salween Watch Coalition is therefore demanding an immediate halt to all plans […]

Potential Camp Closures in Thailand Put Refugees from Burma at Risk

In early April 2011, authorities in Thailand announced their intention to close nine refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border, which would send more than 140,000 refugees back to Burma. That includes 100,000 refugees from Burma who have been officially registered and an estimated 53,000 who have not. This decision has received heavy criticism from local and international human rights groups. The Thai authorities have not indicated when they intend to repatriate the refugees.

The announcement of camp closures comes only 6 months after the fraudulent elections in Burma and the formation of a new parliament composed predominantly of former military officers and those sympathetic to the regime. Since the elections, there has been no opening of political space, conflict in Eastern Burma has intensified and human rights abuses continue throughout the country. Any suggestion that refugees and asylum seekers along the Thai-Burma border could be safely returned to their country in the near future is a complete unreality […]

Thailand/India/Indonesia: Rohingyas at risk need protection

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

Rights Groups to Take Case of Myanmar Migrant Work Accident Victim Chained to Hospital Bed to Labour Ministry Demanding Urgent Systems Review

Mr. Charlie Tiyu, a migrant worker from Myanmar who was illegally chained to his bed whilst receiving treatment for a work-related injury last week, is being supported by Thai rights groups tomorrow (7th Feb 2011) to demand compensation from the Social Security Office’s (SSO) Workmen’s Compensation Fund (WCF). After a campaign by the Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF), the Immigration Bureau ordered Charlie unchained on 4th Feb 2011 but he remains under custody in the Police General Hospital in Bangkok […]