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…)

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 5, 2011, meeting with Burmese President Thein Sein, but has no plans to see the democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, or ethnic political party leaders. (more…)

Burma Lawyers’ Council has released a new briefing paper, “Revealing Burma’s System of Impunity:  A Briefer for the Commission of Inquiry Campaign,” analyzing the inability of the domestic judicial system to ensure accountability for atrocities committed in Burma.  (more…)

The Group of Friends of the Secretary-General on Myanmar met at the ministerial level today. (more…)

Reporters Without Borders has confirmed that access to a number of previously banned foreign news websites including Youtube, BBC, Reuters, The Bangkok Post, Straits Times, Radio Free Asia, Irrawaddy, Democratic Voice of Burma, and the Burmese version of Voice of America has been unblocked. Internet connections nonetheless continue to be very slow. (more…)

Burma Campaign UK today publishes a new Briefing Paper:  Political Events In Burma – New Or Recycled?, analysing recent events in Burma, many of which have been hailed as ‘new’, ‘unprecedented’ and ‘progress’. The Briefing Paper finds that most of what has taken place in recent months is not new at all, and that Thein Sein is borrowing ideas from his predecessors, Than Shwe and Ne Win. (more…)

A report released today reveals the disturbing extent to which China has advanced construction of a trans-Burma oil and gas pipelines project despite raging conflict and associated abuses. (more…)