New York – The United Nations should not delay the setting up of an international inquiry to address possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma, Human Rights Watch said today. On March 15, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tomas Ojea Quintana, presented his progress report on human rights in Burma for debate at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. (more…)

Saskatoon, Canada – The 3rd Burma Forum Canada was successfully held from March 6 to 7, 2010 in Saskatoon, Canada. More than 50 Burmese organizational representatives including ethnic nationalities across Canada and representatives from National Coalition Government of Union of Burma (NCGUB), the Burmese government in exile, Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) and Euro-Burma Office (EBO) participated. A wide range of Burma-related issues such as international polices towards Burma, analysis on 2010 elections and possible scenarios, and the role of ethnic nationalities in the political process in Burma were discussed. The Forum participants unanimously agreed to announce the following: (more…)

Nay Pyi Taw – The following is a translation of the message sent by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe on the occasion of the Peasants Day (2010). (more…)

Asked by the media to comment on the decision on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s appeal, the MFA Spokesman said: (more…)

Amnesty International’s February 2010 report “The Repression of Ethnic Minority activists in Myanmar” reveals that there are real reasons to fear that the 2010 elections in Myanmar will intensify the already severe repression of political critics, in particular those from the country’s large and diverse population of ethnic minorities. The report covers the two-year period from August 2007, six months before the government announced that it would stage national elections, through July 2009.  It draws on testimonies and information provided by or about some 700 members of ethnic minorities who faced human rights violations as a result of their actual – or sometimes, merely perceived—opposition to the Myanmar government or its policies. (more…)

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) is gravely concerned for the well being of unregistered Karen refugees currently residing in displacement sites in Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province. Announcements last month from the Thai government relating to the planned forced repatriation of the refugees beginning in February 2010 have caused renewed concern for their safety. AIPMC welcomes the Thai government’s decision to halt the repatriation of the estimated 3,000 refugees until their safety can be assured. AIPMC furthermore calls on the Thai government to make public and implement a clear policy regarding refugees fleeing from conflict zones across the border in Myanmar.   (more…)

The three families that were forced to return to Karen State, Burma, on the 5th of February 2010, have returned safely to Nong Bou camp, in Thailand. (more…)

Reporters without Borders and the Burma Media Association are appalled by the 20-year jail sentence that a court has just imposed on Hla Hla Win, a freelance video reporter who provided material to the Burmese exile broadcaster Democratic Voice of Burma. Detained since September, she was already given a seven-year sentence in October. (more…)

Rangoon, Burma December 10, 2009 marks the 61st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On this auspicious day, on behalf of the people of Burma who have been oppressed and brutalized by the successive military regime since 1962, we, the All Burma Monks’ Alliance, 88 Generation Students, and All Burma Federation of Student Unions, submit the following message to the attention of the United Nations and the international community: (more…)

The International Climate Change Conference will be held in Copenhagen / DK starting from December 07, 2009, to which world government leaders including EU ministers will be attending. It is expected that Thein Sein, so-called prime minister of the notorious Burma/Myanmar military regime, will as well be attending the Conference, accompanied by his foreign minister Nan Win and followers.    (more…)

“Burma’s neighbors and members of ASEAN have an especially important role to play in encouraging the Burmese Government to move forward on reform, to start a meaningful internal dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, political parties, and ethnic minorities; and to hold credible, fair elections in 2010.” Hilary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State

Singapore – SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, good afternoon. Thank you very much for coming here this afternoon. Before I get started on my comments concerning the important meetings being held here at the APEC ministerial, I want to take a moment to recognize the fact that today is Veteran’s Day in the United States, and I want to acknowledge the veterans and our men and women in uniform and their families, many of whom are deployed in very difficult places around the world. I cannot emphasize enough our appreciation for their dedication and sacrifice. (more…)

NAY PYI TAW —The following is the translation of the message sent by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe on the occasion of the 89th Anniversary National Day. (more…)

At 1130pm, Thurs, Thai foreign Ministry officials informed organizers of APF that 5 out of 10 civil society representatives were rejected from the interface meeting with ASEAN heads of government. The remaining representatives were told to be ready for pick up at 7.A.M., nearly 5 hours before the scheduled meeting. (see below for list of delegates). (more…)

Statement before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs

Washington, DC – Mr. Chairman, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, and Members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me here today to testify about U.S. policy toward Burma and a possible new direction for U.S.-Burma relations. (more…)

Last week the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) issued an urgent appeal on the case of a man in Burma who has been imprisoned as a consequence of making repeated complaints about electricity supply and other poor services in his neighbourhood of Rangoon. (more…)

Earlier this month, Burma’s military regime provided a further example of its extraordinary inhumanity and intransigence, with its decision to reject the appeal by my fellow Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi against the verdict last month which imposed a further term of eighteen months under house arrest. I deplore this decision, and call for her immediate and unconditional release. (more…)

Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention: Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners in Myanmar (more…)

Veteran politicians and daughters of former cabinet members, such as Thu Wai, Mya Than Than Nu, Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein and Nay Chi Ba Swe, announced at a press conference in Rangoon on Sept. 14 that they would found a party named the Democratic Party. (more…)

Today I convened the second meeting of the Group of Friends on Myanmar at the level of Foreign Ministers. The high turnout demonstrates the strong collective interest of all the Friends in the future of Myanmar, and re-affirms the broad support for my good offices. (more…)