New York – Burma’s new government showed signs of change in 2011, but failed to seriously address the still dire human rights situation in the country, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2012 [3]. The government followed up on this progress in early 2012 by releasing several hundred political prisoners. (more…)

Burma Campaign UK today welcomed the EU suspending the application of the visa ban against senior government officials as an appropriate and proportional measure in response to changes that have taken place in Burma. (more…)

Geneva, Myanmar blacklists Rohingya babies as part of its continuing oppression of this stateless minority, The Arakan Project said today as the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) meets to review the situation of children’s rights in Myanmar, a State party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. (more…)

The Asian Legal Resource Centre: An Open Letter to the Chief Justice of Myanmar (Burma)
ALRC-OLT-009-2011
December 22, 2011

U Tun Tun Oo

Chief Justice
Office of the Supreme Court
Office No. 24
Naypyitaw
MYANMAR

Tel: + 95 67 404 080/ 071/ 078/ 067 or + 95 1 372 145
Fax: + 95 67 404 059

Dear Chief Justice

MYANMAR: Appeal to review cases of 32 lawyers disbarred for political reasons

The Asian Legal Resource Centre is writing to you further to a letter submitted to the president dated 4 November 2011 by 16 lawyers who were disbarred because of alleged political crimes or politically related violations of their codes of practice. (more…)

The success of the US Secretary of State’s visit to Burma should be measured on whether the authorities respond immediately by undertaking bold and far-reaching human rights reforms, Amnesty International said in a statement today. (more…)

Brussels – Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, made today the following statement: (more…)

Office of the Press Secretary: Grand Hyatt, Bali, Indonesia

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Just to give you a bit of background — this comes after many months of engagement between the United States and Burma, which we can speak to. (more…)

The Myanmar authorities must act immediately to end the ill-treatment of some15 political prisoners in Yangon’s Insein Prison, where they have been denied water and some reportedly held in “dog” cells, Amnesty International said today. (more…)

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is deeply concerned by reports that the Burma Army are directly attacking churches in Kachin State, beating pastors and church members, setting homes alight and raping, torturing and killing civilians. (more…)

Tokyo – Japanese officials should press Burma’s visiting foreign minister on the need for genuine reforms to improve human rights in Burma, Human Rights Watch said today. Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin will visit Tokyo from October 20 to 22, 2011. (more…)

New York – Burma’s armed forces have committed serious abuses against ethnic Kachin civilians in renewed fighting in Kachin State, Human Rights Watch said today. Since hostilities began over five months ago against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Burmese armed forces have been responsible for killings and attacks on civilians, using forced labor, and pillaging villages, which has resulted in the displacement of an estimated 30,000 Kachin civilians. (more…)

The European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma (EPCB) welcomes the release of around 200 political prisoners in Burma. The release of all political prisoners, along with the implementation of a nationwide ceasefire, are essential first steps in creating a climate in which there can be a genuine dialogue process to solve political problems in the country. (more…)

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) today called on the international community to maintain pressure on the regime in Burma to implement significant and substantial change, release all political prisoners, stop war crimes and crimes against humanity and end impunity. (more…)

Prisoners of conscience Zarganar, Su Su Nway and Zaw Htet Ko Ko have been released in Myanmar’s latest mass prisoner amnesty, after sustained campaigning by human rights organisations including Amnesty International. (more…)

Yesterday, the U Thein Sein administration attempted to appease the international community by offering its second so-called amnesty. (more…)

Reporters Without Borders hails today’s release of the blogger and comedian Zarganar from Myitkyina prison, in the northern state of Kachin, under a “general amnesty” affecting dozens of political prisoners, but urges the government to pursue this conciliatory policy by freeing all detained bloggers and journalists including 17 Democratic Voice of Burma video journalists. (more…)

In its new war against Kachin resistance forces, Burma’s regime has deliberately targeted civilians with killings, torture and sexual violence, displacing over 25,000 people during the past four months. (more…)

The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information from sources in Burma about an alleged assault by a police officer resulting in the death of a young man. According to the information so far received, Ko Naing Win died of head injuries near his house in Thongwa, Rangoon Division at around 3am on 4 October 2011. When found at around 5:30am, he appeared to have been struck on the back of the head by a stick or similar object. His face also was badly swollen and blood was running from his nose. (more…)

Last Friday, Burma’s President announced the suspension of the Chinese-backed Myitsone dam project on the Irrawaddy River, in response to “the desire of the people.” Following this announcement, the Shwe Gas Movement is calling for the suspension of another Chinese mega-project, the Shwe Gas transnational oil and gas pipeline. (more…)

Unprecedented releases of water from Burma’s first major hydropower dam at Moebye due to heavy rainfall
have caused severe flooding around the Karenni capital, Loikaw, spurring calls by community groups to
suspend construction of three large hydropower dams planned by Chinese investors in Karenni state. (more…)