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Only 600 Political Prisoners in Burma: President’s Adviser

October 18, 2011 in /by

TUESDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2011 THE IRRAWADDY The Irrawaddy – Burma only had around 600 prisoners of conscience and released almost half during last week’s amnesty order, President Thein Sein’s political adviser Ko Ko Hlaing told Swedish Radio. Ko Ko Hlaing said accusations that there are 2,000 political prisoners in Burma were “an exaggeration,” and the […]

When a Multi-ethnic Nation Ignores Ethnic Rights

October 18, 2011 in /by

TUESDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2011 The Irrawaddy – Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday that Burmese government forces have committed serious abuses against ethnic Kachin civilians since renewed fighting broke out in the northern state in June. The international rights group estimated that some 30,000 civilians in Kachin State have been displaced by the conflict. […]

US Urges End to Abuses of Burma’s Minorities

October 18, 2011 in /by

TUESDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2011 MATTHEW PENNINGTON/ AP WRITER WASHINGTON— The United States sees encouraging new signs of openness in isolated Burma but says that after decades of military rule, the Asian country has a way to go before it loses its pariah status and tough sanctions are lifted. Special envoy to Burma Derek Mitchell said […]

Imagining a Censorship-free Burma

October 14, 2011 in /by

FRIDAY, 14 OCTOBER 2011 THE IRRAWADDY The Irrawaddy – Last week, Tint Swe, the director of the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division (PSRD), surprised Burma watchers by telling the Washington-based Radio Free Asia that the notorious censorship board he heads should be abolished as part of the country’s moves toward reform. “Press censorship is non-existent […]

Burma to Free 6,359 Prisoners

October 11, 2011 in /by

TUESDAY, 11 OCTOBER 2011 The Irrawaddy – Burmese state-run TV announced on Tuesday that 6,359 prisoners will be released from prisons across the country as from Wednesday, but there was no mention of whether political prisoners will be included. MRTV announced that, according to a presidential decree, prisoners who are aged, disabled or in bad […]

Political Prisoners, Human Rights on NLD Agenda with UN Envoy

August 23, 2011 in /by

TUESDAY, 23 AUGUST 2011 The Irrawaddy – Discussions relating to the release of political prisoners and the Burmese army’s human rights abuses in ethnic areas will be prioritized at an upcoming meeting between a UN human rights envoy and the opposition party, National League for Democracy (NLD), said party spokesman Nyan Win. UN Special Rapporteur […]