Articles

Burma’s new investment law fails to protect human rights or prevent environmental damage, New York based Human Rights Watch has warned. Jessica Evans, international financial institutions expert at HRW said the law , “will be a legal cornerstone of Burma’s efforts to reengage with the global economy and international investors,” but expressed concern that “the government’s public consultations have been…

The United Nationalities Federal Council issued a statement on Saturday, March 28 stating that it was disappointed that once again political discussions with the Burma government have been sidetracked. The UNFC said that in all its negotiation processes with the government it witnesses over and over “the occurrence of some other unexpected problem to choke up dialogue or change the…

A news bulletin released by the Karen Human Rights Group stating that a road planned by the Burma government with funding from the Asian Development Bank threatens villagers’ ability to earn a living. The Karen Human Rights Group claim that if the Asia Highway link between Eindu and Kawkareik goes ahead the “construction would result in the confiscation of villagers’…

The Karen Women Empowerment Group (KWEG), a community based group in Hpa-an ran a training for villagers to help them understand how to vote and what their rights are related to elections. The three-day training workshop was held from 24 to 26 of March at the KWEG office in Hpa-an. The training was attended by 20 villagers from Hpa-an, Kawkareik,…

A two-day natural and cultural heritage event to honor the the Salween River and its people will be held in Hpa-an Karen State from the 27 to 28 March. A statement released by the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN) said that the event will be the “first time that state government, local and national civic organizations, academics and…

Earlier this month a coalition of Karen environmental community based groups, the Karen River Watch, joined local villagers to protest the building of the hydro-power Hat Gyi Dam, in Hlaingbwe Township, Karen State. The protest marked the International Day of Action for Rivers and Against Dams, held each year on March 14, 2015. The Hat Gyi Dam is one of…

Ethnic based and private media groups operating in Burma have raised their concerns on increased media restriction in Burma at a conference held in Harkar of Chin State on March 19, 2015. Around 90 media groups including ethnic media groups and private media groups from different parts of the country got together to discuss the current media law, media development…

Laws which allow inspections of private properties without warrants and require the registration and government approval of household guests are draconian and open to abuse by the authorities, a report by Fortify Rights said today. “ In the past two weeks, Myanmar authorities have reportedly searched private residences under the pretence of checking for unregistered overnight guests in order to…

The Karen River Watch, a coalition of Karen environmental community based groups raise concerns over the proposed hydropower dam projects on the Salween River and repeated their call for a halt to all development projects. Together with local villagers, KRW held a protest near Hat Gyi Dam, one of the proposed dam sites in Hlaingbwe Township, Karen State on March…

Community based organisations, including the Shan Human Rights organisation and Action for Rivers, have called for an immediate halt in government backed dam projects in Shan State, where conflict has escalated in recent months. The Shan Human Rights organisation said it estimated that half of 43 government planned dam projects were to be constructed on rivers inside Shan State –…