Statement by a Worldwide Coalition of Burma Campaigning Groups

This week marks the week of action for the global launch of International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict.

As member organizations of the International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict, we – a worldwide coalition of Burma campaigning groups – support and pledge to help end this wanton scourge that affects so many countries like Burma, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya [...]

KIO Chairman’s Letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

The KIO Central Committee of the Kachin People in Burma, would like to express its deep appreciation to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for the historic steps taken during his visit to Burma, April, 29, 2012 to May, 1, 2012. During that time, the Secretary General met with [...]

Democracy Activists Remain in Jail – Free Aye Aung!

Burma Campaign UK today urged Jeremy Browne MP, British Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for Burma, to push the military-backed government in Burma to investigate the numbers of remaining political prisoners in Burma [...]

Investors Urge Administration to Take Cautious Approach to Lifting Sanctions on Burma

Investments Could Undermine Progress and Worsen Human Rights Abuses

Burma will remain a volatile area for business investment if the Obama Administration broadly relaxes U.S. sanctions, according to a dozen investors collectively managing more than $115 billion in assets. In a letter to President Obama, the investors cited concerns about the risk of derailing progress toward democracy and respect for human rights [...]

High Commissioner For Human Rights Urges ASEAN to Set the Bar High with Its Regional Human Rights Declaration

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Friday offered her encouragement to ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in drafting a regional human rights declaration, but called for a meaningful consultation [...]

Burma’s Exiled Activists Consider Returning Home

“Now my life has changed because we got a baby… Before that, I didn’t care,” he added. “What I wanted I could do. Now I have to think about my son’s future – what would they do without me if I die? So I have to think. But still I am working on the democratic movement” [...]

Aung San Suu Kyi ends boycott to make Myanmar parliamentary debut

Aung San Suu Kyi will take her seat in Myanmar’s military-stuffed parliament on Wednesday, after reversing a brief boycott over the wording of an oath of fealty to the country’s junta-era constitution.

The former political prisoner was scheduled to join the Myanmar (Burma) parliament on April 23, after her National League for Democracy (NLD) Party won 43 out of 45 seats in April 1 by-elections. But Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi asked that the text of the oath be changed from a pledge to safeguard the constitution, which has many provisions her party disagrees with, to one that stipulates only “respect” [...]

Myanmar exiles urge US go slow on easing sanctions

The European Union’s suspension of economic sanctions against Myanmar has riled exiled activists, who are urging the United States to press for further reforms by the dominant military before following suit.

The activists’ opposition has exposed differences with democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi whose cause they have championed for more than two decades, which helped drive the sanctions in the first place [...]

Myanmar activists say go slow on easing sanctions

The increasingly enthusiastic love affair between Myanmar and the West is about to heat up further with the European Union’s expected announcement that it is easing sanctions on the Southeast Asian nation. But not everyone is caught up in the euphoria.

Many human rights groups are urging the West to move slowly as it re-engages with Myanmar, saying the country’s partial return to democracy is not cause for celebration [...]