<p><em>Press Government to Free Political Prisoners, End Impunity for War Crimes</em></p> <p>(Manila, November 17, 2011) &ndash; The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should set clear human rights benchmarks for Burma as a condition for its chairmanship of the regional grouping in 2014, Human Rights Watch said today.</p>

<p><em>Progress in Rhetoric and Policies Should be Matched by Implementation</em></p> <p>(New York, November 4, 2011) &ndash; Positive actions by Burma&rsquo;s new government should not obscure the serious human rights problems persisting in the country one year after the November 2010 elections, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released on November 3, 2011.</p>

<p>BURMESE MONK NEEDS URGENT MEDICAL CARE</p> <p>U Gambira, a Buddhist monk imprisoned in Myanmar because of his role in antigovernment protests in 2007, is seriously ill in prison. Amnesty International has recently received information that his injuries resulted from torture he suffered in 2009. He urgently needs to be transferred to a hospital and treated for his injuries.</p>

<p>Reporters Without Borders is posting a video interview with the comedian and blogger <strong>Zarganar</strong>, who <a target="_blank" href="http://en.rsf.org/birmanie-zarganar-freed-but-dvb-video-12-10-2011,41178.html">was freed from Myitkyina prison</a> on 12 October under a government amnesty.</p>

<p>Arakan Human Rights and Development Organisation (AHRDO) welcomes the release on 12 October 2011 of 6,359 prisoners. As of October 13 according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma (AAPP-Burma) approximately 220 political prisoners including 7 Arakanese monks and activists, viz. U Einthariya, U Kawvida, Ko San Lwin, Ko Naing Soe, Ko Min Aung, Ko Kyaw Win Chay and U Myat Tun, were released.</p>

<p>Paris-Bangkok, 14 October 2011. The release this week of an estimated 220 political prisoners in Burma comes as a relief to their families and colleagues, but again fall far short of a key benchmark for reconciliation and genuine transition to democracy, namely the unconditional and immediate release of all remaining political prisoners and the cessation of military attacks on civilians, said the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member organization the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma) today.</p>

<p>The release of at least 120 political prisoners in Myanmar today is a minimum first step, and authorities must immediately and unconditionally release all remaining prisoners of conscience, Amnesty International said.</p>

<p><em>Genuine Reforms Needed Before Considering ASEAN Chairmanship</em></p> <p>(New York, October 4, 2011) &ndash; The first official visit to Burma by Thailand&rsquo;s new prime minister should focus on mutual human rights concerns as well as investment opportunities, Human Rights Watch said today. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will pay a short visit to the Burmese capital Naypyidaw for several hours on October 5, 2011, meeting with Burmese President Thein Sein, but has no plans to see the democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, or ethnic political party leaders.</p>

<p>During the peaceful demonstrations in 2007 which marked Myanmar's 'Saffron Revolution', thousands of monks participated in democratic rallies against the military rule across Myanmar. Despites a government crackdown on internet and mobile links to the outside world, images were shown worldwide of mass arrests and indiscriminate government-violence upon peaceful civilian protesters. </p>

<p><em>Petition to Burmese President Calls for Prisoner Release</em></p> <p>(New York, September 14, 2011) &ndash; The Burmese government should immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners in Burma to demonstrate a genuine commitment to its touted reform process, Human Rights Watch said today. On September 13, 2011, Human Rights Watch sent a petition of more than 3,000 signatures to President Thein Sein from individuals calling for the release of the approximately 2,000 political prisoners in the country.</p>

<p>Reporters Without Borders participated in the demonstrations that were staged outside Burma&rsquo;s embassies in several capitals today [9 Sept] in response to a call from Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), a radio and TV station run by Burmese exile journalists.</p>

<p>A report released on Sept 6 reveals the disturbing extent to which China has advanced construction of a trans-Burma oil and gas pipelines project despite raging conflict and associated abuses.</p>