ND Burma
ND-Burma formed in 2004 in order to provide a way for Burma human rights organizations to collaborate on the human rights documentation process. The 13 ND-Burma member organizations seek to collectively use the truth of what communities in Burma have endured to advocate for justice for victims. ND-Burma trains local organizations in human rights documentation; coordinates members’ input into a common database using Martus, a secure open-source software; and engages in joint-advocacy campaigns.
Recent Posts
- On International Women’s Day, the Network for Human RightsDocumentation – Burma Calls for the Recognition of Women’s Contributions to the Pro-Democracy Movement
- INTERVIEW: Why an Argentine court filed a warrant for Aung San Suu Kyi’s arrest
- Myanmar junta bombs rebel wedding, at least 10 killed
- Press Statement: Argentine Court’s arrest warrants are welcome progress towards justice
- OPEN LETTER: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL MUST TAKE CONCRETE ACTION TO SUPPORT THE MYANMAR PEOPLE’S EFFORTS TO BUILD A RIGHTS-PROTECTING FUTURE
Pregnant woman among three reported injured by naval attacks in Sagaing
/in NewsSoldiers rode boats along the Chindwin river and fired guns and artillery at villages along its banks, residents said
Junta soldiers injured three people, including a pregnant woman, and destroyed several houses during attacks on villages in Sagaing Region last week, locals told Myanmar Now.
Troops travelled down the Chindwin river on boats during a two day assault in Kani Township, coming ashore to fire guns and heavy artillery at villages sitting along the riverbank.
Locals said soldiers from nine military boats attacked the villages of Sar Pho Gyi, Nat Gyi, Yinyein, and Thit Khat on Friday and Saturday.
The pregnant woman, who is 30 years old, was shot in the leg trying to escape when soldiers fired guns at one village, said a Kani local who volunteered to help rescue those injured.
“The military started shooting at the shore. The pregnant lady got shot in the leg while trying to flee. She’s seven month pregnant now,” the volunteer said.
The volunteer and another local said a house and three motorcycles were burned down in the town of Kani, while two houses in Yinyein and a house from Thit Khet were hit with artillery shells.
There were also reports that two men were injured when soldiers came on land and rampaged through Nat Gyi on Saturday morning, and the village was hit with around 20 shells, the residents said.
The attacks were likely a response to ambushes by People’s Defence Force fighters against military boats, said a Kani-based political activist.
“There were some occasions where People’s Defence Force troops shot at the military vehicles from the shores of the Chindwin river. I think the military was trying to scare off the civilians on the shore,” he said.
Thousands of people living along the riverbank have fled their homes since the attacks and are in need of food, medicine, and shelter, the residents said.
The junta has not commented on the attacks.
Earlier this month villagers found the bodies of 15 men in Kani who appear to have been the victims of a military massacre after they were captured and tortured by soldiers.
Kani emerged as a hotspot for anti-coup protests after the military’s February power grab, and some of its residents have since taken up arms in response to murderous crackdowns by the junta.
Weekly Update on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar Post-Coup (July 19-25)2021
/in HR SituationThe Myanmar junta is continuing to deprive and deny civilians access to COVID-19 prevention, including medicine, vaccines, oxygen and more. In addition, internal conflict is still rampant in ethnic ares. Urgently needed medical supplies are being blocked and civilians are paying the price. The junta is not equipped to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. International intervention is urgently needed! More in our weekly update
Urgent Diplomatic Release on Insein Prison Strike
/in Member statementsNLD Leader U Nyan Win Dies of COVID-19 While Detained by Myanmar Junta
/in NewsBy THE IRRAWADDY 20 July 2021
U Nyan Win, a central executive committee (CEC) member of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s long-time personal lawyer, died of COVID-19 on Tuesday, while being detained by the Myanmar military regime.
The 79-year-old was arrested on the morning of the junta’s Feb.1 coup and subsequently held in Insein Prison, where he caught coronavirus. He was moved to intensive care at Yangon General Hospital on July 11.
He is one of the first political prisoners to die of COVID-19, as Myanmar struggles with a spike in infections and fatalities from a devastating third wave of coronavirus.
U Nyan Win joined the NLD in 1988, soon after the party was formed following the 1988 pro-democracy uprising.
He was elected as a member of parliament representing Mon State’s Paung Township in the 1990 election, which the previous military regime refused to recognise. He was also a personal attorney for detained State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during her previous periods of house arrest.
“He was like a parent to us,” said Ko Kyaw Wunna, the secretary of the NLD’s Central Research Committee. He was arrested many times, but released without being imprisoned, “but this time, he gave his life”, he added.
U Nyan Win is survived by his wife and a daughter. His wife has been suffering from
Alzheimer’s disease for nearly a decade and family friends are also worried about her health.
While acting as a spokesperson for the NLD, U Nyan Win also led the party’s electoral campaigns in the 2012 by-elections and the 2015 and 2020 general elections. He was always outspoken about the undemocratic, military-crafted 2008 Constitution.
As tensions between the NLD and military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing intensified after the 2020 election, U Nyan Win anticipated that the military would launch a coup, according to Ko Kyaw Wunna.
“As a legal expert, he said the coup could happen, but that the military cannot seize power under its 2008 Constitution and that, if they did so, they would face a backlash one day in accordance with the law. He did not expect that the coup would last as the country’s economy has nose-dived due to the COVID-19 situation,” said Ko Kyaw Wunna.
On Feb. 1, the NLD’s senior leadership, including the whole CEC, was detained by the junta just hours after the coup and the detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. U Nyan Win’s whereabouts were unknown until March 6, when his family heard that he had been moved to Insein Prison.
Subsequently, he was charged with sedition under Article 505(b) of the Penal Code in regard to NLD statements issued on Feb. 7 and Feb. 13.
Daw San Mar Lar Nyunt, U Nyan Win’s lawyer and a family friend, worked with him for 32 years and said that he was healthy when she met him earlier this month.
U Nyan Win had been diagnosed with cardiomegaly, an enlargement of the heart, which is often a sign of heart disease. He also had gout and gastric problems.
More than 2,100 people have died of COVID-19 since Feb. 1, according to the junta-controlled Ministry of Health and Sports. But the actual death toll is believed to be far higher due to the under-reporting of coronavirus fatalities.
Insein Prison, which holds some 13,000 prisoners, was locked down on July 8 to curb the spread of coronavirus and trials of the detainees have been suspended. Coup leader Sen, Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said on Sunday that there are 315 COVID-19 victims inside prisons across Myanmar and 190 of them are still undergoing treatment, while five people with underlying conditions have died. However, he didn’t disclose how many of those infected are political prisoners. There have been reports of other political detainees being infected with coronavirus.
919 civilians had been killed and 6,828 arrested during anti-regime protests as of Monday. Over 5,000 people are still being detained, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
Irrawaddy News
UN convoy arrives in Mindat to provide assistance for refugees
/in NewsBasic goods for refugees in Mindat Township which the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) brought has arrived in Mindat Township on July 19.
Starting from tomorrow, the UNHCR will continue to provide basic requirements including personal protective equipment for COVID-19 protection, Non-food items such as tarpaulins, mosquito nets, mats, blankets, kitchen utensils and solar lanterns. According to the United Nation’s statement, up to 5,000 people (1,000 households) will benefit.
Mr Stephen Anderson, Resident Representative of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP); said: “WFP is doing its utmost to arrange delivery of life-saving food assistance as soon as possible for recently people in Mindat and other locations. Meanwhile, WFP is supporting UNHCR with transportation of some of its in-kind assistance for Mindat IDPs.”
Mizzima News
Weekly Update on the Stituation of Human Rights in Myanmar Post-Coup (July 12-18)2021
/in HR SituationThe pandemic continues to ravage livelihoods in #Myanmar while the junta exhibits a lack of ability, coordination and will to protect the people. Life-saving supplies are being blocked and personal protective equipment is in short-supply. Yet, the military is only interested in preserving their own well-being by hoarding medical equipment for their benefit. More in our weekly update