Burma Campaign UK
Burma Campaign UK today urged U Win Mra, the Chairman of the Myanmar National Human Rights Council to call for the establishment of a permanent review mechanism for political prisoners, and the immediate release of Aung Soe and all remaining political prisoners in Burma. Aung Soe is a member of Yangon People’s Support Network. He …
Statement by Karen Community Based Organizations Welcoming the Release By The International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School of, “War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity in Eastern Myanmar” It’s Time For Justice The Karen people have suffered decades of abuse at the hands of the various forms of the Burmese dictatorship and Burmese military. …
Burma Campaign UK today published a new briefing paper, Recent Reports On Burma, which summarises key points from some of the most recent reports on Burma. In early November 2014 President Obama visited Burma for the second time. His visit helped to focus attention on the fact that Burma’s reform process has not only stalled, …
The influential Foreign Affairs Committee of the British Parliament has published a report today which calls on the British government to support the re-imposition of European Union sanctions on Burma in 12 months’ time if there is no improvement in the situation of the Rohingya, and if all political prisoners are not unconditionally released. The …
On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, more than 2,000 campaign postcards are being delivered to the British Foreign Office calling on Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond to support the establishment of an international investigation into rape and sexual violence committed by the Burmese Army. The postcards were signed by supporters of …
Increased militarisation driving human rights abuses Press Release by Women’s League of Burma Burma Army soldiers continue to engage in acts of sexual violence on a widespread scale, and women and human rights defenders in ethnic communities face harassment and persecution, the Women’s League of Burma (WLB) said in a new report published today to …
Following a debate on human rights in Burma in the British Parliament yesterday evening, Burma Campaign UK today accused the British government of being in denial about the reality of the reform process in Burma. Burma Campaign UK called on the British government to formally accept that the reform process in Burma has stalled, that …
Press Release by the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School Myanmar must decide how to address legacy of abuses by military A four-year investigation by the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School has found that the Myanmar military committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in 2005-2006, and that perpetrators, including …
Burma Campaign UK today called for the immediate and unconditional release of the Bi Mon Te Nay journalists. Bi Mon Te Nay Journal’s three journalists Kyaw Zaw Hein, Win Tin, Thura Aung, and owners Yin Min Htun and Kyaw Min Khaing were arrested in July, and were investigated by the Special Branch police in Burma. …
Burma Campaign UK today accused Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire of sticking his head in the sand, trying not to see or talk about human rights problems in Burma which don’t fit the positive picture he is trying to present. The accusation comes following his ducking questions in the British Parliament yesterday about the growing …
The Prakanong Court in Bangkok dismissed defamation charge brought against Andy Hall by Natural Fruit Company Ltd, a pineapple export factory. Natural Fruit has launched multiple criminal and civil prosecution against the researcher and activist since February 2013 as a result of his contribution to a Finnwatch report published in 2013. The report revealed serious …
On the third anniversary of the abduction of Sumlut Roi Ja, an ethnic Kachin woman from Burma, we, the undersigned organizations, call on the Burmese government to thoroughly investigate her enforced disappearance and hold the perpetrators accountable. On 28 October 2011, Burma Army soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion 321 abducted 28-year-old Sumlut Roi Ja along …
The death of well known freelance journalist Aung Kyaw Naing, aka Par Gyi, while in military custody in Kyaikmayaw Township, Mon State, comes as a shocking reminder of how extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention and torture are still being used against citizens in Burma. Par Gyi worked as a security guard for Aung San Suu Kyi …
Statement by Myanmar Civil Society Organizations Forum 14 –16 October 2014 Introduction We, more than 650 representatives from 257 organizations and networks in Myanmar, came together in Yangon for 3 days from 14-16 October 2014 to exchange opinions, debate and to assess a wide range of issues currently confronting Myanmar in the context of recent …
New report by Kachin Women’s Association Thailand: Burmese military strategies fueling Kachin drug crisis A new report exposes how anti-insurgency strategies of the Burma Army are fuelling the drug crisis in Kachin areas, particularly since the renewal of conflict against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in 2011. “Silent Offensive” by the Kachin Women’s Association Thailand …
Phillip Hammond Urged To Take Action To Free Htin Kyaw Burma Campaign UK today urged Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond to pressure the military-backed government in Burma to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Htin Kyaw, a political prisoner in Burma. Burma Campaign UK today highlights the case of Htin Kyaw as part of the …
Joint Submission on the Proposed World Bank Group’s Country Partnership Framework (CPF) in Myanmar We, the undersigned organizations in Myanmar and other countries, respectfully submit these comments to the World Bank Group to inform the development of the Country Partnership Framework for Myanmar. We belong to civil society organizations and ethnic community networks with a …
Rights groups call for an end to enforced disappearances in ASEAN Today, on the occasion of International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, we, the undersigned organizations, urge ASEAN member states to end acts of enforced disappearances in Southeast Asia. Cases of enforced disappearances continue to occur in the region. Victims include human rights …
The Information Commissioner’s Office, which monitors adherence to the Freedom of Information Act 2000, has issued a decision notice that the Ministry of Defence breached the Freedom of Information Act by failing to disclose details of military training being given to the Burmese Army. The decision by the Information Commissioner stated: “By failing to disclose …
President Thein Sein Should Reveal Role in ’88 Massacre As the 26th anniversary of the 88 massacre and crackdown approaches, Burma Campaign UK today launches a campaign calling on President Thein Sein to publish his full army record and reveal his role during this time. When he became President, Thein Sein described the massacre and …
This year’s Vale Earth Fair, which takes place at the Vale Castle on Sunday 24th August, will see the legendary urban electronic dance act Freestylers headline the long running music and arts festival. After a 15 year career the Freestylers have played all the biggest festivals and the most talked about nightclubs around the world. …
Brang Yung Detention Illegal Says United Nations The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has issued a ruling that the detention of the ethnic Kachin farmer Brang Yung is illegal and called for his immediate release, and for adequate reparation. Brang Yung was arrested in June 2012 by the military-backed government in Burma. He …
Statement by the Women’s League of Burma High-level intimidation of Chin women activists exposes systemic impunity for military rape The high-level intimidation of Chin women activists opposing military sexual violence shows clearly the systemic impunity protecting Burma Army rapists. On June 10, 2014, a soldier from Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion no. 269, stationed at …
One Month On From Signing Sexual Violence Declaration – No Action Taken One month on from signing the Declaration Of Commitment To End Sexual Violence In Conflict, the government of Burma appear to have taken no steps at all to implement the declaration. Burma Campaign UK published a new briefing paper today looking at the …