Freedom House Calls for Economic Sanctions and UN Action in Burma

Freedom House today joins other human rights organizations in urging President Barack Obama to take more decisive action against human rights abuses in Burma.

Freedom House and 21 other human rights organizations expressed their concerns to President Obama in a letter urging the United States to impose economic sanctions on Burma as outlined in the JADE Act […]

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Calls for a Commission of Inquiry as Conflict Continues in Eastern Burma

Earlier this week, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi vocalized her strong support for a UN-led Commission of Inquiry in a video message recorded for a hearing of the US House Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. The hearing was held to highlight the fraudulent November 2010 elections, as well as the ongoing conflict in Kachin State.

The Congressional Committee hearing was entitled “Piercing Burma’s Veil of Secrecy: The Truth Behind the Sham Election and the Difficult Road Ahead.” Representative Don Manzullo, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on East Asia, criticized last year’s elections and drew on the ongoing fighting in Kachin State to highlight the lack of change in Burma: “The recent news of clashes in Burma’s Kachin province between government troops and ethnic minorities, which has been the heaviest fighting in 17 years, adds further evidence to the argument that the situation in Burma has not changed,” wrote Manzullo in his statement […]

Burma’s Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to Address an U.S. Congressional Committee for the First Time Ever

On Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011 at 12:30pm, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, chaired by Congressman Donald Manzullo (R-IL), will hold a hearing, entitled “Piercing Burma’s Veil of Secrecy: The Truth Behind the Sham Election and the Difficult Road Ahead.” Chairman Donald Manzullo (R-IL) just announced he has received a pre-recorded video message from Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to be played during the hearing, a significant event as it is her first address to a Congressional Committee […]

Burma’s Regime Attacks Kachin Ethnic Resistance Group, International Community Must Demand End of all Violence and Peaceful Solution through Political Dialogue

The U. S. Campaign for Burma (USCB), a Washington, DC-based human rights organization campaigning to end crimes against humanity and the culture of impunity in the Southeast Asian country of Burma, today strongly demands the international community pressure Burma’s Thein Sein regime […]

US Senator McCain’s Calls for “Concrete Action” Distorted by Regime

Last week, US Senator John McCain embarked on a three-day trip to Burma to assess potential progress towards democratic reform since the November 2010 elections. At the conclusion of the trip, Senator McCain said at a press briefing that US sanctions on the country would remain in place until “concrete actions” are taken to improve the human rights and political situation, and warned the regime that it could face an Arab-style revolution if no progress is made. McCain went on to call for the release of all political prisoners, the guarantee of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s safety during her upcoming tour through Burma, a democratic process of national reconciliation and fulfilling non-proliferation obligations under international law.

During his visit, Senator McCain met with senior leaders in the regime, political opposition leaders, ethnic leaders and former political prisoners. He also met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, to listen to her views on the US’ Burma policy […]

Press Briefing by Senator John McCain

Thank you for being here this morning, and I want to thank our Chargé and the U.S. Embassy for all of their support. It is a true pleasure for me to return to this country after 15 years. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world, full of decent, amazing people who inspire me every day. It is wonderful to be back.

Over the past two days, I have had a chance to meet with senior leaders in the new civilian government, including both speakers of parliament and the First Vice President. I have met with political opposition and ethnic minority leaders, both in and out of the government […]

Chevron Withers Under Criticism from Communities Suffering Human Rights and Environmental Harms

Yesterday at Chevron’s annual shareholder meeting, 22 indigenous, First Nation, and other impacted community members and supporters who had traveled to the company’s headquarters from locations around the globe and across the state confronted CEO John Watson with the brutal human and environmental abuses caused by the oil giants operations […]

U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Travel to Burma

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (DAS) for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Joseph Yun has just concluded a three-day visit to Burma. His May 18-20 trip was the first by a Washington-based official to meet with leaders of Burma’s post-election government. DAS Yun’s trip reflects the United States’ ongoing efforts to engage directly with the government and to consult with a diverse range of stakeholders including democracy and ethnic leaders, businesspeople, and civil society representatives […]

Members of U.S. Congress Call On President Obama to Lead Establishment of International Commission of Inquiry in Burma

The U. S. Campaign for Burma (USCB), a Washington, DC-based grassroots organization campaigning to end crimes against humanity and the culture of impunity in the Southeast Asian country of Burma, today welcomes the call made by Members of U.S. Congress, urging President Obama to “redouble the United States efforts, at the highest levels, to establish the (UN) Commission (of Inquiry)”. A bi-partisan group of 31 Members of the House of Representatives made their call in the letter they sent to President Obama on April 28, 2011 […]

First US Ambassador to Asean Expected to Press Burma

David Lee Carden, a former attorney who has been named the first US ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), will attend the Asean Summit in Indonesia next week, where he will have the opportunity to push Burma to change and discuss with Asean members whether Burma chair the organization in 2014, claim Burma activists […]