Burma Has Two Faces, One for the International Community and One for the Ethnic People

“Suu Kyi represents hope for so many people. There’s going to be huge crowd of people who will come to see her. It’s going to be an exciting day for us,” said Saw Tun Tun, chairman of Mae La Refugee Camp Committee, ahead of Daw Aung Sang Suu Kyi’s visit. And it was an exciting day. On Saturday thousands of people gathered in Mae La camp on the Thai-Burma border to welcome “The Lady.” In Mae Sot, the city of activists and exiles from Burma, her pictures are usually everywhere in restaurants, teashops, houses. Saturday, her pictures were on the streets as people gathered along the roads to welcome her and get a chance to get a glimpse at “Mother Suu.”

Daw Suu’s visit is hugely symbolic and was a rare occasion to put Burma migrant workers and refugees in the spotlight. Her visit conveyed lots of hope as Win Aung, a migrant worker who lost his hand in an accident at a Thai-run shoe factory said, “She can’t force the Thai government to do anything, but she can speak on our behalf better than anybody else.”

Daw Suu’s first trip abroad in 24 years was also an occasion for her to address the international community at the World Economic Forum in Bangkok and to remind the leaders of the world that Burma’s so-called transition is still very fragile. “These days I am coming across what I call reckless optimism. A little bit of healthy skepticism I think is in order,” said Daw Suu at the forum […]

An Open Letter to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

Dear Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,

We, the Karen Women Organization are deeply heartened to see you travel outside of Burma with the confidence that you will be able to speak freely and return home safely. We understand you are attending and addressing the World Economic Forum in Bangkok and that a visit to the border might be possible. We would like to extend an invitation to you to visit a refugee camp on the Burma border so that our community can share with you our hopes and concerns about returning to Burma […]

ASEAN Must Move Swiftly to Implement a Framework Instrument on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) today called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to ensure it works swiftly to implement a legally binding ASEAN Framework Instrument on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers. It also called on the governments of Thailand and Myanmar to improve coordination with each other and civil society organisations to ensure the effective implementation of the 2008 Anti-Trafficking Law and to ensure legal mechanisms are drafted and implemented to ensure the rights of migrant workers are protected […]

The Death of Two Burmese Migrants in the Custody of the Thai Authorities Must be Probed

On 17 April, while the people of Thailand were enjoying the long holidays for the New Year and Songkran water festival, two Burmese migrants were found dead in the back of a deportation vehicle. Mr Maungg Soe (25), and Ms Ma Mi Lar (36) were two of 62 migrants […]

ASEAN Must Address Issue of Rights Abuses and Lack of Protections of Migrant Workers

The ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) today called on ASEAN and its member governments, as well as international organisations, to take urgent and concrete measures to ensure the protection and rights of migrant workers across the region […]

MPs and Politicians from ASEAN on February 23-25 Fact-Finding Mission to Phang Nga, Thailand to Highlight Plight Faced by Burmese Migrants

Leading ASEAN MPs and members of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) will be in Thailand on a three-day fact-finding mission from February 23-25 to raise awareness on issues surrounding migrant […]

Visit to Thailand of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission

Mr. Win Mra, Chairman of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC), accompanied by Mr. Nyunt Swe, Member of the MNHRC, is on a visit to Thailand during 12 – 15 February 2012 as guests of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The objective of this visit is to exchange views on human rights promotion and protection as well as bilateral cooperation. The visit is also part of the MNHRC’s tour to meet with the National Human Rights Commissions in ASEAN member countries […]

Snap Shot Stories: Invisible Victims of Trafficking in Thailand

Thailand’s rapid economic growth has created wealth and opportunities. Development has resulted in increased demand for labour, or to be more precise, cheap low skilled foreign labour to do dirty, dangerous and difficult work that Thais often will not themselves do […]

Burma: Thai Leader Should Promote Rights During Visit, Genuine Reforms Needed Before Considering ASEAN Chairmanship

The first official visit to Burma by Thailand’s new prime minister should focus on mutual human rights concerns as well as investment opportunities, Human Rights Watch said today. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will pay a short visit to the Burmese capital Naypyidaw for several hours on October […]

Ineffective Protection of Migrant Labour as a Migrant Worker Died Unprotected

Since 2009, a number of migrant workers from Burma have undergone nationality verification process and become legal migrant workers in Thailand. In almost two years of the implementation, the policy has been set out clearly […]