Burma Campaign UK
Burma Campaign UK today condemned the sentencing of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, and urged Aung San Suu Kyi to release them today, and to repeal all repressive laws, which are being used to keep journalists, human rights activists and others in jail for political reasons. “The NLD-led government has the power to immediately …
Following the release of an interim report by the United Nations Fact Finding Mission calling for Min Aung Hlaing and other senior generals to be investigated and prosecuted for the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, Burma Campaign UK today repeated its call for the British government to support referring Burma to …
When Min Aung Hlaing, head of the Burmese military, launched his pre-planned military offensive against Rohingya civilians last August, the majority of those he targeted were children. A new UNICEF report, Futures in the Balance, https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/UNICEF_Child_Alert_Rohingya_Aug_2018.pdf details the devastating impact on children who fled to Bangladesh. It calls for long term planning to support refugees, …
Burma Campaign UK today called on British Prime Minister Theresa May to support the referral of Burma to the International Criminal Court. To date, the British Foreign Office, which claims to be leading the international response to the crisis, has refused to support a referral. It is now almost a year since the Burmese military …
Saturday 25th August marks the first anniversary of the beginning of a pre-planned military offensive against the Rohingya population in Burma, using the pretext of attacks by a small armed Rohingya organisation, ARSA. The military offensive drove around 700,000 Rohingya into neighbouring Bangladesh. It is believed that thousands of Rohingya were killed and there was …
Press Release from ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights JAKARTA More than 130 lawmakers from across Southeast Asia today demanded the international community bring officials in Myanmar to justice for atrocity crimes committed against the Rohingya population of Rakhine State. In the joint statement released today, 132 sitting MPs from five countries*, including 22 members of ASEAN Parliamentarians …
By Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK When Min Aung Hlaing, head of the Burmese military, launched his military offensive against Rohingya civilians in August 2017, there was international outrage. One year on, the European Union (EU) has yet to implement a single practical sanction or other action to hold Min Aung Hlaing to account …
Karen communities worldwide join the call from Kachin and other ethnic people of Burma for the United Nations Security Council to refer Burma to the International Criminal Court. As long as members of the United Nations Security Council continue to protect the Burmese military from facing justice, human rights violations against our people will continue. …
The denial of citizenship to the Rohingya people is one of the foundation stones which underpins prejudice and violence against the Rohingya. Their right of citizenship is one of the top demands of Rohingya, including a key condition for refugees before returning to Burma. A new briefing ‘Rohingya Citizenship. Now or Never?’ published today by …
By Mark Farmaner, Director, Burma Campaign UK Following the military offensive against the Rohingya in October 2016, in which around 80,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh and there were credible reports of executions and mass use of rape, the British Foreign Office, which had previously rejected calls to support a UN Commission of Inquiry on violations …
By Paul Sztumpf Refugee researcher, Burma Campaign UK `The right of return’ is a fundamental right of all refugees, to voluntarily return to their country of origin or of citizenship and is enshrined in international law. However, as the thousands of Palestinians on the Gaza border are demonstrating, exercising that right is not that simple. Burma’s …
Statement by Ei Tu Hta IDP Supporting Committee Statement in Burmese here. The decades-long offensives waged against ethnic nationalities by the Burmese military has created a humanitarian crisis in Burma. The overwhelming number of internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugees from Karen, Kachin, Shan and Rakhine States are the direct consequence of the ongoing conflict, …
By Mark Farmaner, Director, Burma Campaign UK Serious questions and doubts hang over the new MOU signed between the United Nations and the government of Burma on a supposed framework for creating conditions for safe return for Rohingya refugees. For a start, to date, it’s a secret deal. It’s about the Rohingya but the Rohingya …
Burma Campaign UK is today calling on the EU to reveal which EU members are providing training to the Burmese military, and publish details of that training. When EU members published their response to the Rohingya crisis, they claimed they were prohibiting training and co-operation with the military. In fact, they decided not to stop …
In the face of atrocity crimes, ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya and continuing attacks against other ethnic groups, the UK can no longer continue with ‘business as usual’ in its interactions with Burma. In a Report published today, MPs on the International Development Committee say that the actions and language of the UK towards Burma need …
Burma Campaign UK’s Campaigns Officer, Karin Valtersson, joined the demonstration by the Kachin community in the UK, calling on the British government to support the UN Security Council’s referral of Burma/Myanmar to the International Criminal Court. Tell the British government to stop protecting the Burmese military
Update by the Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT) Burma Army commits war crimes against Kachin IDPs: blocking access to refuge, using as human shields and minesweepers, indiscriminate shelling, looting Contrary to claims by Burma Army commanders that they have not targeted civilians in their recent offensives against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), interviews by KWAT …
Statement by the Karen Women’s Organization The Karen Women’s Organization (KWO) condemns all acts by the Burmese military in violation of the nationwide ceasefire. The Burmese Army has repeatedly demonstrated their lack of accountability and regard for human rights. We call on the International Community to help us and to hold the Burmese military accountable …
Statement by the Kachin Women’s Association of Thailand We welcome the UNSC delegation’s historic visit to Burma from April 30 to May 1, 2018, which highlighted the large-scale displacement from northern Rakhine State, but we are disappointed that the UNSC delegates did not visit northern Burma, or make any mention of the ongoing Burma Army …
Media Release by Karen Peace Support Network A new report and documentary film by the Karen Peace Support Network have been produced to highlight the ongoing plight of the Karen people who must continue to flee the Burma Army’s military operations despite the existence of ceasefire agreements, including the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). The Burma …
The Burma military broke the ceasefire with the Kachin Independence Organisation in 2011. Since then, residents of the Kachin region have endured various forms of human rights violation as well as denial of humanitarian assistance by Burmese military. Their daily lives have also become dictated by the ebb and flow of armed conflict in …
Update by the Shan Human Rights Foundation The rape and brutal slashing of a 73-year-old woman by a Burma Army soldier near Mong Phyak town, eastern Shan State, on April 2, 2018, highlights the vulnerability of women amid the heavy Burma Army presence in this area. The town of Mong Phyak, half way between Tachilek …
Burma Campaign UK today expressed disappointment at the apparent decision by Aung San Suu Kyi to keep around 90 political prisoners in jail. The reported release of 36 political prisoners today is wonderful news for those political prisoners and their families, but also represents a decision not to free around 90 other political prisoners currently …