BURMA: Speaker of Legislature Puts State Sovereignty Ahead of Torture Elimination

On 21 March 2013 a member of the national legislature in Burma introduced a motion calling for the country to join the United Nations Convention against Torture. In his motion, Dr Aung Moe Nyo, member of the National League for Democracy for Pwintbyu, Magway Region, argued that as the country is now developing and democratising in accordance with international standards it would be appropriate to join the convention […]

Savage Torture in Ordinary Criminal Cases

One misconception about the use of torture in Myanmar is that it has been a form of human rights abuse most commonly associated with the cases of political prisoners, and therefore in the current period we should expect the incidence of torture to diminish as political conditions change […]

Burma: Investigate Death of Former Political Prisoner

AAPP is deeply saddened to learn about the passing of former political prisoner Phyo Wai Aung. He passed away due to liver cancer at his home in Rangoon on 4 January 2012, only 5 months after his release from Insein prison where he served 2 years […]

BURMA: In memoriam: Phyo Wai Aung, a Courageous Fighter Against Inhuman Abuse

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is greatly aggrieved to learn of the tragic death of Phyo Wai Aung in Rangoon, Burma during the early morning hours of 4 January 2013. Phyo Wai Aung was an aspiring young electrical engineer with a loving family […]

BURMA: Court Issues Landmark Ruling on Death in Police Custody

In a landmark ruling, a court in Burma has rejected the police version of events that led to the death of a man in their custody, and has opened the door to a charge of murder to be brought against the officers involved […]

Burma: AHRC Urges Bail for Japanese National, Reinvestigation of Partner’s Death in Custody

The Asian Human Rights Commission on Wednesday called for the release on bail of the partner of a young woman who died in custody in Burma during March, and urged that a new investigation be opened into the officials responsible for her death.

“According to news reports, Namase Motohiko has repeatedly applied for bail because he is suffering from clinical depression and diabetes, but has repeatedly had his requests denied,” Bijo Francis, acting executive director of the Hong Kong-based regional rights group said […]

Innocent Civilians Remain in Burma’s Jails – Free Brang Shawng!

Burma Campaign UK today called for the immediate release of Brang Shawng. Brang Shawng is a 25-year-old Kachin farmer who was arrested under suspicion of being a captain of Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and carrying out bombing operations near Myitkyina. While he was in interrogation he was tortured brutally and forced to confess to bombings in the area […]

Burma: Questions About Torture & Death in Custody of Young Woman; Arrest of her Partner

The Asian Human Rights Commission has followed closely reports since March of the death in custody of a young woman, Nan Woh Phan, in Rangoon, Burma, followed in May by the arrest and detention of her partner for alleged illegal business activity. The commission is concerned that whereas by now the family of the victim should have expected some progress towards identifying and prosecuting those persons responsible for her death, and other actions taken to address the systemic causes of her death, instead officials in Burma seem more concerned to pursue cases against her partner in a manner that raises many questions about their actual intentions and interests […]

Extreme Measures: Torture and Ill Treatment in Burma since the 2010 Elections

This report documents the Government of Burma’s torture and ill treatment against its own people since the 2010 elections. This report demonstrates that the Burmese government continues to commit these abuses despite being bound to international human rights treaties and norms. Furthermore, the lack of domestic legislation prohibiting torture, the absence of an independent judiciary, and an ineffective Human Rights Commission contribute to a climate where torture and ill treatment are perpetrated with impunity […]

ND-Burma Launches Report Documenting Torture and Ill Treatment in Burma Since the 2010 Elections

The Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma) released a new report in Bangkok today, documenting the Government of Burma’s use of torture and ill treatment against its own people since the November 2010 elections.

“The international community has been applauding the government for recent gestures towards change; essentially they are praising the government for continuing to violate the fundamental rights of the people of Burma,” said Twan Zaw from All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress […]