UN Rapporteur Quintana’s Visit to Burma

United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, Tomas Ojea Quintana, was in Burma this past week, the first international visit to the country since the US State Department delegation trip in November. On 16 and 17 February, Quintana visited Sittwe in Burma’s Arakan State and traveled another 3 hours by boat to reach Buthidaung prison, […]

Union Day Highlights Opposition to the Junta’s Undemocratic Elections

Today marks Union Day, the anniversary of the signature of the Panglong Agreement that was designed to bring together the ethnic groups into the federal Union of Burma. Sixty-three years later, ethnic groups throughout the country are still struggling for equality, federalism, and an end to human rights violations in their communities under the repressive […]

Thailand Begins Forcibly Repatriating Karen Refugees

We have heard that 3 families of Karen refugees have been sent back to Burma today, despite promises from the Thai military that all the refugees would be safe. The families were staying in temporary camps at Nong Bua (also called No Bu) and Mae U Su, in Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province, Thailand, […]

The Movement to Stop the Irrawaddy Myitsone Dam

In the last couple of weeks, protests against the Myitsone dam project on the Irrawaddy river in northern Kachin state – Burma’s largest river and most important commercial waterway – have been gaining momentum. On 18 January, the Myitkyina Zonal Kachin Baptist Church, with 59 sub-divisional churches and 100,000 followers, held a 24-hour prayer service […]

Resilience and Resistance Despite Junta’s Repression

We have just learned that the health condition of a young female political prisoner is rapidly worsening to the point of being life threatening. Ni Mo Hlaing was sentenced to 5 years in Thayet Prison in 2009 for assisting the Cyclone Nargis survivors, has become seriously ill since October 2009 with gastritis, meningitis, and gout. […]

Junta’s Stalling Shows True Intent

Last week we reported how the military regime is progressing with its preparations for the planned elections. This week we look at the efforts of democratic and ethnic opposition groups to organize among themselves.

Than Shwe Announces Elections as Planned

We hope that the New Year finds you well and prepared for the busy year we have ahead of us!

Only days into the New Year, on the 62nd anniversary of Burma’s Independence Day on January 4th, Senior General Than Shwe confirmed the military regime’s plan to hold elections this year, warning the people to make “correct choices”.