By Fortify Rights |
<p>The Government of Thailand should end refugee pushbacks and protect refugee rights, said Fortify Rights in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBNMaGDULdY">new short-film</a> released last Thursday (2 February) on the forced return of refugee children to Myanmar.</p>
By Pongpan Chumjai |
<p>The political situation in Myanmar has changed from a military government, which ruled since 1962 until a civilian government led by the National League for Democracy (NLD) won the elections in 2010 and 2015. Even though this has still not brought the country to a fully democratic system of government, since the 2008 Constitution still reserves political power to the Myanmar military, it has been enough for western countries to adjust relations with Myanmar by relaxing sanctions, investing in Myanmar and donating more assistance funding.</p>
By Burma Partnership |
<p>On 27 October 2015, the Union Election Commission (UEC)<a href="http://www.dvb.no/news/elections-cancelled-in-4-shan-townships-myanmar/58539">announced</a> that elections would be cancelled in four townships in Shan State as a result of the newly intensified fighting between the Burma Army and the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N).<a href="http://www.dvb.no/news/burma-army-launch-assault-on-shan-army-hq-myanmar/58568">According</a> to the Shan State Progressive Party, the political wing of the SSA-N, the Burma Army was seen to ramp up attacks against the SSA-N after they deliberated t</p>
By Myanmar Now |
<p><img alt="" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/645/22757615531_ec54e95343_c.jpg" /></p>
<div><span>Ethnic parties in Myanmar elections (Infographic: Myanmar Now, Prachatai) <a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/645/22757615531_ec54e95343_b.jpg">See large image here</a></span></div>
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<p><img alt="" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/782/22125224143_83307918a6_b.jpg" /></p>
By Burma Partnership |
<p>The Union Election Commission (UEC) has <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=72826759&msgid=908506&act=98NZ&c=348258&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dvb.no%2Fdvb-video%2Felection-2015-polls-wont-open-in-karen-states-east%2F57703">declared</a> 102 villages in Karen State to be too dangerous for polling to take place, which will prevent nearly 10,000 citizens in Burma from voting during the 8 November, 2015 General Elections. The announcement comes amid a number of similar voting cancellations and interference during the last few months.<br /></p>
By Human Rights Watch |
<p>Burmese authorities should immediately stop using abusive laws on association and expression to halt the activities of land rights activists, Human Rights Watch said today. The recent arbitrary arrest of a prominent land rights advocate in Karen State exemplifies the government’s persecution of vocal opponents of land grabs by officials and their business associates. <br /></p>