| Anti-Muslim
violence in Central Burma |
| April 2013 - Pdf, Word |
A tense calm prevails
after deadly religious violence hit Central Burma in
March, with anti-Muslim attacks reported in four townships
in Mandalay Division and eight townships in Pegu Division.
According to official figures, the violence in Meikhtila,
Mandalay Division, killed 44 people and displaced over
12,800. As of 9 April, over 8,400 people remain displaced.
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more.... |
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| Burma’s
Parliament: Fundamental reforms still blocked |
| September 2012 - Pdf, Word |
From 4 July to
7 September, Burma’s Parliament held its fourth
session. Despite efforts by some opposition MPs, regime
officials and USDP MPs continued to block fundamental
legislative reforms, including the repeal of existing
oppressive laws and the adoption of progressive legislation.
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| Burma’s
by-elections: Still short of international standards |
| March 2012 - Pdf, Word |
On 1 April, more
than six million Burmese are eligible to go to the polls
to elect less than 7% of the total number of seats in
the National Parliament. While the by-elections have
limited political significance, they are important because
they are being championed as an indicator of progress
by the international community after the sham 2010 polls.
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| Burma’s
economy: Mismanagement as usual |
| November 2011 - Pdf, Word |
Contrary to the
regime’s rhetoric of substantial economic reform,
the Burmese economy remains hostage to the same oppressive
and misguided economic policies that have stunted its
development for decades. Read
more.... |
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| Burma
2011: Still a military dictatorship |
| March 2011 - Pdf, Word |
Despite the convening
of the newly elected Parliament, Burma’s ‘democratically-elected’
regime is nothing more than a disguised version of the
military dictatorship that has ruled Burma for the past
five decades. Read
more.... |
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| Burma
2010 election recap |
| November 2010 - Pdf, Word |
Widespread evidence
of electoral fraud, irregularities, threats, harassment,
and lack of independent monitoring characterized Election
Day and the days leading up to it. The election process
was met by widespread condemnation inside and outside
Burma, with the significant exception of ASEAN and China.
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more.... |
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| Quotable
Daw Suu |
| November 2010 - Pdf, Word |
After her release
from seven years under house arrest, Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi has spoken on a wide range of issues concerning
the past, present, and future of Burma. Read
more.... |
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| Burma’s
2010 elections: The story so far |
| October 2010 - Pdf, Word |
This briefer shows
that despite the SPDC’s repeated pledges for “free
and fair” elections, indicators for election monitoring
based on EU, UN, and OSCE guidelines point to the contrary.
Read
more.... |
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| SPDC
election laws strangle democracy |
| July 2010 - Pdf, Word |
Despite the SPDC’s
repeated pledges for “free and fair” elections,
the junta’s legal framework for the polls, including
five laws issued in March and Directive 2/2010 issued
in June, is repressive and undemocratic. Read
more.... |
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| June
2010 ASEAN briefing packet |
| June 2010 - Pdf |
The briefing packet
contains the following briefers: Burma’s 2008
Constitution Perpetuates Root Causes of Instability;
SPDC Election Laws: Repressive & Anti-Democratic;
2010 Elections Fuel Instability within the Army; SPDC
Nuclear Program and Ties with N. Korea: A Threat to
ASEAN and Beyond; Read
more.... |
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| Eastern
Burma: 118,800 displaced in 18 months |
| February 2010 - Pdf, Word |
Between July 2008
and December 2009, SPDC military operations displaced
at least 118, 800 people in Eastern Burma, including
43,800 refugees and 75,000 internally displaced persons.
The number of displaced people by the SPDC is likely
to grow even more as the SPDC prepares for its elections
later this year. Read
more.... |
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| New
US policy: An alibi for regional complacency |
| November 2009 - Pdf, Word |
In September,
the US unveiled its new Burma policy which calls for
high-level engagement with the SPDC while leaving existing
sanctions in place. However, Burma’s neighbors
have deliberately misread Washington’s new approach
and used it to justify greater tolerance of the regime’s
escalating crimes against humanity and war crimes. Read
more.... |
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| Will
ASEAN fail to confront the SPDC, again? |
| October 2009 - Pdf, Word |
With its new Charter,
ASEAN now has the necessary tools to insist on democratic
reform and national reconciliation in Burma. However,
since the 14th ASEAN Summit in February 2009, the SPDC’s
relations with ASEAN and the international community
soured over the conviction of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Read
more.... |
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| Guilty
as planned |
| October 2009 - Pdf, Word |
The SPDC’s
sentence that extended Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s
house arrest for another 18 months further demonstrates
the military regime's ambitions to silence Burma’s
greatest hope for peace and national reconciliation.
Read more.... |
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| Burmese
uprising redux |
| August 2009 - Pdf, Word |
August 8 marks
the anniversary of the 1988 nationwide popular uprising
against Burma’s military regime. The 1988 uprising
represents the Burmese people’s ongoing struggle
against the regime’s protracted economic mismanagement
and political oppression. Read
more.... |
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| SPDC’s
2010 elections: Upheaval in the making |
| May 2009 - Pdf, Word |
The SPDC preparations
to ensure full control over the 2010 election is fueling
instability, with consequences that will exacerbate
cross-border economic and security issues already adversely
affecting the region. Read
more... |
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| The
14th ASEAN Summit: Little change despite Charter |
| April 2009 - Pdf, Word |
ASEAN leaders’
promotion of the newly enacted ASEAN Charter as an instrument
of change rang hollow at the 14th ASEAN Summit because
of the organization’s failure to effectively deal
with the problems created by the Burma’s military
regime. The failure was glaring. Read
more... |
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| Burma
is still ASEAN’s shame |
| February 2009 - Pdf, Word |
The Burmese military
regime has not improved its behavior since the ASEAN
Charter came into force on December 15, 2008. By intensifying
repression in the past two months, the regime has directly
attacked the integrity and credibility of ASEAN and
its Charter. Read
more... |
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| 13
years is too long: Free Daw Suu now |
| October 2008 - Pdf, Word |
On
24 October, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will mark her 13th
year in detention. Yet, she remains committed to a peaceful,
political solution that is needed now more than ever
for the people of Burma. Read
more… |
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| Burma:
Social and ecological justice at threat |
| October 2008 - Pdf, Word |
This
is a compilation of one-page, bilingual briefers on
a range of topics prepared for the Asia Europe Peoples
Forum 7, held on October 13-15, 2008 in Beijing. The
briefers were produced by Altsean-Burma and several
campaign groups in keeping with the theme of the conference
and workshops. Read
more… |
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| Update:
Burma’s political prisoners |
| August 2008 - Pdf, Word |
On 6 June, the
UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma Tomás
Ojea Quintana said that the number of political prisoners
stood at 1,900. This represented a 65.2% increase from
July 2007 when there were 1,150 political prisoners
in Burma. Read
more… |
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| August
8, 2008: What can the world do? |
| August 2008 - Pdf, Word |
Twenty years after
the 8888 national uprising, the international community
must realize that unconditional engagement, discreet
diplomacy, and ASEAN’s so-called constructive
engagement has failed. Read
more… |
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| Burma
20 years on: Hungry as ever for democracy |
| August 2008 - Pdf, Word |
Twenty years after
brutally suppressing the inspiring 8888 uprising, Burma’s
military regime, the State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC) has run the country’s infrastructure into
the ground and squandered its natural resources. Instead
of investing in the development of Burma, the regime
has focused national resources almost entirely on the
military, doubling the size of the army and undertaking
a spending spree on weapons. Read
more… |
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| Update:
SPDC turns cyclone survivors into hostages |
| June 2008 - Pdf, Word |
As of 23 June,
a total of US$241.3 million was committed to relief
operations. Donors pledged a further US$66.4 million
but expressed concern about restrictions and corruption.
The UN and other agencies reached an estimated 1.3 million
of the 2.4 million people affected by cyclone Nargis.
Read
more… |
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| Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi: needed now more than ever |
| June 2008 - Pdf, Word |
19 June marks
the 63rd birthday of Burma’s pro-democracy leader
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the 4,619th day of her detention.
On 6 June, the SPDC indicated that Daw Suu could be
detained up to 27 November 2009 under existing law.
Read
more… |
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| SPDC
turns disaster into catastrophe |
| May 2008 - Pdf, Word |
“SPDC turns
disaster into catastrophe” describes how Burma’s
military regime inflicted more injury on its own people
in the aftermath of cyclone Nargis. Burma’s people
suffered needlessly as the SPDC obstructed aid and disaster
relief teams from entering the country. Read
more… |
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| Disaster |
| May 2008 - Pdf, Word |
On 3 May 2008,
cyclone Nargis struck the Irrawaddy delta and wiped
out entire villages as it left a path of destruction
across five regions. Over seven million people were
affected by the storm, with estimates of dead ranging
from 25,000 to 100,000 and up to a million homeless.
Read more… |
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| Burma
at 60: Time for change! |
| December 2007 - Pdf, Word |
The
brief socio-economic overview of Burma’s past
60 years presents the grim realization that the past
two years have witnessed a sharp decline in Burma
on all fronts. Read
more…
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| Time
for ASEAN to bite the bullet |
| November 2007 - Pdf, Word |
The briefer urges
ASEAN and its dialogue partners to throw their weight
behind a genuine reform process that is based on tripartite
cooperation between the military regime, the National
League for Democracy, and ethnic groups. Read
more… |
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| ASEAN
should stop passing the buck on Burma |
| October 2007 - Pdf, Word |
The briefer asserts
that ASEAN countries must exercise their substantial
influence on Burma’s military leaders to secure
the delivery of genuine political and economic reforms,
instead of using China as an excuse for inaction. Read
more... |
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| Saffron
Revolution: Update |
| October 2007 - Pdf, Word |
In the "Saffron
Revolution," tens of thousands of Buddhist monks
led massive anti-junta demonstrations. It was the largest
show of peaceful protests against the military regime
since 1988. Read
more... |
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| Face
off in Burma: Monks vs SPDC |
| September 2007 - Pdf, Word |
Between 18 and
24 September, tens of thousands of Buddhist monks led
massive anti-junta demonstrations across most of Burma’s
States and Divisions. In the largest show of peaceful
protests against the military regime since 1988, thousands
of Burmese civilians joined the rallies. Read
more... |
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| Fuel
price hikes inflame Burmese people |
| September 2007 - Pdf, Word |
On August 15,
the SPDC increased fuel prices by up to 500% overnight,
affecting the cost of essential commodities and transport.
Burmese people from all walks of life participated in
nationwide protests. Read
more... |
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| National
Convention: roadmap to instability |
| July 2007 - Pdf, Word |
The National Convention
remains a fundamentally flawed and inherently illegitimate
process aimed at formalizing and prolonging military
rule in Burma. The results will intensify the root causes
of the ethnic-based conflicts perpetuated by Burma’s
successive military regimes. Read
more.... |
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| She
must be free |
| June 2007 - Pdf, Word |
On 27 May 2007,
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s latest term of house arrest
came up for review. The briefer documents Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi’s life, important quotes, and the numerous
awards conferred on her. Read
more.... |
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| Forced
labor in Burma: time for action |
| November 2006 - Pdf, Word |
The forced labor
situation in Burma has not improved in the six years
since the ILO first addressed the issue in November
2000. While the regime has responded to ILO pressure
with positive measures, any gains have been lost as
soon as pressure is eased. Read
more.... |
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| China
gambles on Burma at its own peril |
| October 2006 - Pdf, Word |
The briefer examines
the negative impact on China’s society that is
the result of China’s cozy economic and political
ties with the SPDC. The serious implications of China’s
economic and political ties with the SPDC include: Read
more... |
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| August 2006 - Pdf, Word |
The
briefer highlights the continuing persecution and discrimination
of Rohingya and Muslim in Burma and the denial of basic
protection and fundamental rights in neighboring countries.
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| The
Spirit of 8888 lives on |
| August 2006 - Pdf, Word |
The briefer honors
the courageous non-violent actions of ordinary people
and political leaders who have stood up for human rights
and democracy in Burma. Read
more... |
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| ATS:
a need for speed |
| July 2006 - Pdf, Word |
The majority of
ATS production and trafficking in the world occurs in
Southeast Asia, and Burma is a primary source of ATS
to the world market. The briefer examines the global
and regional impact of amphetamine production and use.
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| Burma’s
Withdrawal From The ASEAN Chair - Retreat Or Defeat? |
| September 2005 - Pdf, Word |
| On 26 July 2005, the SPDC withdrew its
claim to the ASEAN chair, causing a massive loss of face
for Snr Gen Than Shwe and his cronies. With the military
regime in a weakened state, now is the time for ASEAN
and the international community to push the junta towards
genuine and comprehensive reforms for democratization
in Burma. Read more.... |
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| Pressure
Works - Burma Backs Off From ASEAN Chair |
| August 2005 - Pdf, Word |
| Unprecedented pressure from Asean has
forced the Burmese regime to back off from claiming the
coveted chair for 2006. Although billed as “Burma’s
own decision”, the move – affecting the regime’s
credibility and prestige – was a defeat for regime
head Senior-General Than Shwe. Read
more... |
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| Waiting
to explode? |
| July 2005 - Pdf, Word |
Three bombs detonated
in central Rangoon on 7 May 2005. The bombings have
been commonly assumed to be an “inside job”
to justify increased military actions against dissident
groups, or as an expression of tensions between Vice-Sr
Gen Maung Aye and “young guns” aligned with
Sr Gen Than Shwe. Read
more... |
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| Call
For FATF To Maintain Burma’s NCCT Status
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| May 2005 - Pdf, Word |
Despite the regime’s
recent showcase closing of two banks, the SPDC has not
taken significant action against money laundering. The
SPDC’s approach to money laundering remains sub-par
and a threat to regional economies and global efforts
to combat money laundering. Read
more... |
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| Update:
Tsunami impact on Burma |
| January 2005 - Pdf, Word |
In December of 2004, an undersea
earthquake near Indonesia triggered a tsunami that caused
widespread destruction in Indonesia, Thailand, India
and, most likely, Burma. Because of Burma’s secretive
military regime, it has been had to assess the full
extent of the tsunami’s damage to Burma. Read
more.... |
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| Tsunami
impact on Burma |
| January 2005 - Pdf, Word |
In December of 2004, an undersea
earthquake near Indonesia triggered a tsunami that caused
widespread destruction in Indonesia, Thailand, India
and, most likely, Burma. Because of Burma’s secretive
military regime, it has been had to assess the full
extent of the tsunami’s damage to Burma. Read
more... |
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| Briefing
Note - It Is Time To Act On Burma |
| June 2004 - Pdf, Word |
Now, more than
ever, the people of Burma need the leverage provided
by decisive actions such as sanctions that are working
to deprive Burma’s military regime, the SPDC,
of foreign exchange to fund its nationwide repression,
and legitimacy. Read
more... |
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