Statement by the President on the Release of Burmese Political Prisoners

President Thein Sein’s decision to release hundreds of prisoners of conscience is a substantial step forward for democratic reform. Two months ago, I spoke with Aung San Suu Kyi and President Thein Sein about how America’s engagement can help empower democratic reform, and improve relations between our countries. (more…)

Bangkok, The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of nine journalists who were freed as part of a mass release of at least 600 political prisoners in Burma on Friday, but calls on President Thein Sein to release reporters still being held in detention and to implement press reforms that would end the country’s repressive media environment. (more…)

Nay Pyi Taw, 30 Dec—The Chairman of Myanmar National Human Rights Commission and party visited the Insein Prison and Hlay-Hlaw-Inn Yebet Prison Labour Camp and issued a statement today.

The full text of the statement is as follows:-

Statement by the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission on its visits to the Insein Prison and Hlay-Hlaw-Inn Yebet Prison Labour Camp (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…)

“We all were arrested for our consciousness and for our beliefs. The whole world, the whole country and including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have asked to release the political prisoners. They selectively released us. There are many prisoners left in the prisons, including ill people and the aged and hospitalized. They must be released…. All political prisoners deserve to be free.” – Su Su Nway, labor activist and former political prisoner (Mizzima News)

“Burmese soldiers killed my parents, my brother and sister, and my uncle after they forced him to watch them rape his wife. If soldiers are able to use forced labor, sexual violence, forced relocation and other abuses as mechanisms of domination, why should President Obama reward President Thein Sein?”
– Myra Dahgaypaw, Letter to the Editor, New York Times, October 6, 2011

“I am not happy at all, as none of my 14 so-called political prisoner friends from Myitkyina prison are among those freed today…. I will be happy and I will thank the government only when all of my friends are freed.” – Zaganar (Associated Press)

During the unprecedented uprising in 1988, the monks, laity, students and other people of Burma, by sacrificing lives, blood and sweat, demanded human rights and democracy for the country and the people. It is now 23 years since the National League for Democracy (NLD) was formed according to the Political Parties Registration Act to fulfill those aspirations of the people. (more…)

Washington, DC – Question: Can you please provide a read-out of Assistant Secretary Campbell’s meeting with Burmese Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin? (more…)

“Many people have given genuine support to my call for peace. It is not surprising that we are not seeing results immediately, but if everyone works as best as they can, peace will eventually come about. As I stated in the press release regarding my meeting with Minister U Aung Kyi, I see that there could be potential for cooperation that will benefit the people. Although this is just a beginning, I must say that it is a positive beginning.” – Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (Radio Free Asia)

That the government of Burma does not respect international law is very serious. Both the Burmese and the legitimacy of the international system. Ethnic minorities in the country is attacked by the military to get them to move to forced labor elsewhere. (more…)

The former General Secretary of the National League for Democracy in Myanmar appeals to the ILO to expand its activities in Myanmar. (more…)

Testimony

Joe Yun

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

Testimony Before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs (more…)

This is the final day of my mission to Thailand which began on 16 May 2011. I visited Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Bangkok this time in my efforts to gather information about the situation inside Myanmar where I have not been able to visit. This information is important for preparation of my next report to the UN General Assembly later this year. I met with various stakeholders including civil society and community based organizations, experts, UN officials, and diplomats. I also met with the Foreign Minister of Thailand and Myanmar’s Ambassador to Thailand. I spoke with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi by telephone. (more…)

“Our brothers and sisters are yet to be released. It would be very sad for future generations if we, the youth, cannot fulfill the responsibility of pulling our country out of this downward spiral… It would be hard for us to call this government a truly democratic one without releasing the prisoners of conscience.” – Zeya Thaw, co-founder of Generation Wave

Yangon – I have just completed a three-day working visit at the invitation of the new Government of Myanmar in my capacity as Special Adviser to the Secretary-General. This follows my earlier visit shortly after the elections in November last year. The purpose of this visit was three-fold: (more…)

Washington: Asserting the new “Thein Sein`s government is just a continuation of the military regime,” eleven pro-democracy Myanmarese groups have asked the junta to conduct dialogue with all stakeholders to revise the 2008 constitution. (more…)

New York – The Secretary-General has taken note of the official announcement in Naypyitaw of the transfer of power from the State Peace and Development Council to the new Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. (more…)

Members of the European Burma Network (EBN) met in Prague, Czech Republic, on 12th and 13th February, 2011. The European Burma Network brings together organizations promoting human rights and democracy in Burma, and works in solidarity with Burma’s democracy movement. (more…)

Nay Pyi Taw, December 17 – The following is the full text of the address delivered by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe at the Passing out of Parade of No. 13 Intake of the Defence Services Technological Academy. (more…)