<p>More than 80 per cent of migrant workers in Thailand are from Burma. It was presented to me that in spite of the 2003 MOU and the 2009 nationality verification process to change irregular workers status to legal status through issuing of Burmese passports, migrant workers are still facing frequent and significant rights violations because neither Burma nor Thailand has adopted a rights-based approach to managing migration, as exemplified in numerous ILO conventions, and most importantly, in the comprehensive 1990 UN Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families.</p>

<p><em>Joint Statement: Burma: International monitoring and protection of all civilians from religious and ethnic violence needed in Western Burma</em></p> <p>The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma), the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) of Indonesia, and Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) of Indonesia are deeply alarmed by the continued sectarian violence in Rakhine State in western Burma since 3 June 2012, which has resulted in fatalities, injuries, destruction of property and displacement of residents. We appeal for immediate international attention to this disaster.</p>

<p>On June 4 and 5, 2012, about 80 people from various community-based organizations, including women&rsquo;s, youth, environment, community development, media, health, education, literature and culture groups, migrant workers groups, as well as monks and farmers from Shan State held a forum to discuss the current political situation in Shan State, especially the ongoing peace negotiation process.</p> <p>Key concerns raised by participants about the current situation are as follows: </p>

<p><em>Ensure Prompt Access to International Media, Aid Workers</em></p> <p>(New York, June 12, 2012) &ndash; The government of Burma should take all necessary steps to protect communities at risk in Arakan State after violence between Buddhists and Muslims in western Burma left an unknown number dead, Human Rights Watch said today. The government has taken inadequate steps to stop sectarian-violence between Arakan Buddhists and ethnic Rohingya Muslims, or to bring those responsible to justice.</p>

<p><em>Safeguards Needed Before Allowing Investment, Financial Services </em></p> <p>(Washington, DC, May 15, 2012) &ndash; The US government should not ease sanctions on business activities in Burma until adequate safeguards are in place to prevent new investment from fueling human rights abuses, Human Rights Watch said today. A US presidential order imposing a ban on investment and financial services in Burma is scheduled to expire on May 20, 2012, unless it is renewed or revised.</p>

<p>Paris, Bangkok, 2 May 2012 - With many sanctions against the military-backed government in Burma in the process of being suspended or lifted, there is intense interest from European companies in investing and trading with Burma.</p>

<p><em>There remain hundreds of prisoners the government denies are political.</em></p> <p>In Burma this week, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon urged foreign countries to lift sanctions. At the same time, it was wise of him to keep pushing Burma to release its remaining political prisoners. The fate of these wrongfully imprisoned people, too often overlooked as we celebrate those who have been released, can tell us much about the Burmese government's intentions with regard to reform.</p>

<p>&ldquo;More companies have been registered in Myanmar in the past six months than the previous decade combined,&rdquo; revealed, on separate occasion, directors of two market research firms in Rangoon. Since 2010, Burma recorded big jumps in its foreign investment stock, bringing in nearly US$25 billion, which account for more than all investment in the previous two decades. While the number of enterprises permitted to invest still remains low, a mere fifteen in 2011, the trend indicates both growth in volume and number.</p>

<p>In a <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=59263456&amp;msgid=848081&amp;act=TKVY&amp;c=348258&amp;destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.burmapartnership.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F04%2FJoint-Statement-on-release-of-ASEAN-Human-Rights-Declaration-English_Final-2012-04-08.pdf">joint statement</a> released today, over 100 civil society organizations and networks across the ASEAN region have called for the release of the draft ASEAN Human Rights Declaration and the initiation of meaningful public consultations on its content.</p>

<p>PHNOM PENH &mdash; The ASEAN Inter Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC), while noting allegations of irregularities and widespread electoral violations, today welcomed the results of the Myanmar by-elections held on 1 April 2012 but called on ASEAN to raise the issue of ongoing violence and conflict in Myanmar&rsquo;s ethnic areas during the ASEAN Summit from April 3 &ndash; 4 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.</p>

<p>The by-elections in Myanmar marks a historic phase in the country&rsquo;s transition towards democracy and ANFREL-Foundation takes this opportunity to congratulate the people of Myanmar. The by-elections were extremely significant to sustain the reforms process in Myanmar and strengthen the process of democratization in the future.</p>

<p>A core member of the influential '88 Generation Students Group and a former political prisoner--released three months ago, Ko Ko Kyi, talked with Achara Ashayagachat how he saw the future of Myanmar in the post 1 April by-elections.</p>