By Benjamin Zawacki, Amnesty International’s Researcher on Myanmar
“We must move forward, forward in Myanmar. There is no backwards for us.” These words were spoken to me by a participant in the “8888″ uprising in Myanmar who was forced to flee his country. Twenty years after the brief flowering of people power in Myanmar, however, little [...]

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Olympics Open on Bloody Anniversary Twenty years after the uprising in Burma, the military government continues to sharply restrict fundamental rights and violently suppress dissent, Human Rights Watch said today. The anniversary falls as the Olympic Games open in Beijing, while the Chinese government gives crucial support to Burma’s repressive regime.
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Twenty years after the start of pro-democracy demonstrations in Myanmar that were violently repressed, the United Nations (UN) should take stronger measures to obtain the release of U Win Tin and other prisoners of conscience detained since that day, Amnesty International said today.
The UN Secretary-General’s Special Advisor, Ibrahim Gambari, and the UN Special Rapporteur [...]

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Profits From Rubies, Jade Finance Repression
A new US law that bars gem dealers and jewelry retailers from importing rubies and jade from Burma is a major step in curtailing the unethical international trade in Burmese gems, Human Rights Watch said today.
Link to HRW

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Independent Monitoring Body Should Be Established to Oversee Aid Donors assisting in Burma’s reconstruction after Cyclone Nargis should ensure that aid reaches the Burmese people, and is not manipulated by its repressive government, Human Rights Watch said today in an open letter to donors. The devastating cyclone that struck southern Burma on May 2-3 directly [...]

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Civilians Forced Back Into Conflict Zone, More Returns Threatened
Thai security forces should immediately stop forcing Karen refugees and asylum seekers to return to Burma from refugee camps in Thailand, Human Rights Watch said today.
Link to hrw.org

Tags: Burma, Myanmar, Thailand

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Concerned Governments Should Press for Zargana’s Release
Burma’s military government should immediately free detained activist Zargana and permit him to continue distributing aid unhindered to communities affected by Cyclone Nargis, Human Rights Watch said today.
Link to hrw.org

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More Bureaucracy Adds to Government’s Interference in Aid Efforts
New Burmese government guidelines on humanitarian agencies will further hamper the delivery of aid to the victims of Cyclone Nargis, Human Rights Watch said today.
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For over two years the Myanmar army has been waging a military offensive against ethnic Karen civilians in the eastern parts of the country. The ongoing offensive includes widespread and systematic violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, according to a new Amnesty International report. The report describes these violations as crimes against humanity.
The [...]

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Myanmar’s government is keeping aid from reaching survivors of Cyclone Nargis and stepping up efforts to force them out of emergency shelters, according to new research published by Amnesty International. The government’s actions place tens of thousands of already vulnerable survivors at increased risk of death, disease and hunger.
On 20 May, Myanmar’s government, the State [...]

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