human rights

More than 100 women and girls have been raped by Burma’s military since 2010, according to a report released by the Women’s League of Burma. The Thailand-based Women’s Leaugue of Burma (WLB) said in a report released today that 47 of the cases documented were gang rapes and 28 of the women were either killed or later died of their…

The founder of the renowned Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) warns of “significant barriers” to improving the health of people on the Thai-Burma border, despite some recent reforms in Burma, in an opinion piece for the Bangkok Post. Dr Cynthia Maung says that obstacles to the health of cross border communities remain in place, even as Burma goes through political and…

Environmental researchers have found village water sources close to a tin mining operation in Southern Burma have dangerous levels of lead and arsenic. Independent community-based researchers from Kamoethway, east of Dawei Town, working with an environmentalist expert from the Netherlands carried out water testing in villages close to a tin mining operation and found that the villagers water sources are…

In what human rights groups are calling a blow to Burma’s ongoing reform process, two Kachin IDP’s arrested under Burma’s Unlawful Association Act law have had their jail sentence increased from two years to seven years – the reasons for the increase are as yet unclear. Burma Army units who arrested them last month are also alleged to have tortured…

In a first for humanitarian organisations in Burma, the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) was awarded the Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, in Taipei on Tuesday December 10. The award is given annually for “significant contributions to the advancement of human rights or democracy in Asia through peaceful means.” Established in 1992, The…

As in life, Nelson Mandala, has now in death, unified millions of people across the world. His stand with the oppressed, his fight against great odds to stop injustices, his struggle for equality, his humbleness and his sheer joy – unite. Today, the world’s best international sporting teams – football, cricket, rugby and basketball will remember Mandala. Politicians will speak…

Nelson Mandela, the inspirational figure of Africa’s struggle for freedom and the hero to millions around the world, has died at the age of 95 in the company of his family at home in Johannesburg. Nelson Mandela’s death was announced to the world by South Africa’s current president, Jacob Zuma, who said on television that Mandela had “departed” and was…

Burma’s media joined forces with the International Federation of Journalists to call for a media environment without censorship and to be included in the legislation that shapes the country’s media laws. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) issued a media statement supporting Burmese journalists as “they work to create a more open media landscape” for the country’s journalist to work…

In recent months and as peace negotiations with the government continue, human rights abuses including rape and arbitrary killings at the hands of the Burma Army continue against Kachin people, according to community-based organisations and frontline backpack medics. The conflict between the Kachin Independence Army and Burma’s Army that started in June 2011 has left over 350 villages in trouble,…

The 28th of October marked the second anniversary of the abduction of Sumlut Roi Ja, an ethnic Kachin woman, by members of Burma’s Army. She is still missing. Burma Army soldiers arrested Sumlut Roi Ja, a 28-year-old mother, on October 28th 2011 while she was working on the family’s farm near her village Hkai Bang, close to the China border.…