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
- President Win Myint freed in broad Myanmar prisoner amnesty
- Rights Group Files Genocide Complaint Against Myanmar Junta Chief: Indonesian AG
- Releases‘Defying a Dictatorship’: An Overview of the Human Rights Situation in Burma
- Defying a Dictatorship
- Open Letter: The UNHRC Must Reject the Junta’s Sham Election Results to ConsolidateIllegitimate Rule and Advance Accountability
HURFOM conducts FDI study to halt exploitation and violation in Mon State
/in Member statements, ND-Burma Members' ReportsJuly 30, 2016
Today the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) releases ‘Examining Foreign Direct Investment in Mon State, Burma’, a report focusing on the effects from the recent surge of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) coming into Mon State, Burma.
Report in English | Burmese
This report will discuss the different and complex ways in which FDI influences and changes the lives of local people, not only changes in agriculture but also how they have to adjust their way of life. FDI cripples their livelihoods, physically and mentally, changing Burma’s minority ethnic communities.
Research for this report was conducted from January to June 2016. During this 6 month period, 4 field reporters mainly focused on Kyaikmayaw Township and Ye Township, visiting these areas 15 times in 6 months. The field researchers also visited Moulmein Township, Kyaikhto Township, and Paung Township in order to collect broader fact-finding information and evidence relating to FDI and the impacts.
The report contends that FDI has been causing a lot of instability and insecurity for the local populations in Mon State. Many villagers have expressed their concerns about new projects developing, especially those that will use coal-fired power. It is clear that local people accept FDI; however, there should be transparency and compensation in full.
Nai Aue Mon, Program Director of the Human Rights of Monland (HURFOM) draws attention to the impacts of FDI in Mon State, saying,
“We need investment, but only the ethical investment which known as sustainable, environmentally and socially responsible investments for our people. However, by looking the results of the field works, we can say that the positive effect is hard to quantify but the negative consequences of the projects are enormous. Many researches showcase that the rights of our people are not respected by the investors and people are not fortunate enough to be everyone who benefit from the FDI, instead, they are facing serious hardships for their living. Hence, we aim to share this finding to the public, highlighting the negative impacts of the current FDI circumstances to help seeking solutions for the affected communities in Mon State. We are looking forwards to get back to a level of responsibility from both the investors and the government.”
HURFOM concludes that with the help of this research project and the incumbency of the new democratic government, hopefully the abuses will slowly become less.
For more information:
Domestic Media (Myanmar Language)
Name – Nai Byuu Har Monday
Position – Documentation Team Leader, Human Right Foundations of Monland – Burma
Phone – 09255803274
Email – byuuhar@gmail.com
Domestic Media (English Language)
Name – Min Banya Oo
Position – Documentation Team Member, Human Rights Foundation of Monland – Burma
Phone – +959788871992
Email – banya.willian@gmail.com
International Media and other relevant individuals
Name – Nai Aue Mon
Position – Program Director, Human Rihgts Foundation of Monland – Burma
Phone – +959776228040
Email – info@rehmonnya.org
Human Rights Foundation of Monland – Website: www.rehmonnya.org
HURFOM conducts FDI study to halt exploitation and violation in Mon State
/in ND-Burma Members' ReportsJuly 30, 2016
Today the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) releases ‘Examining Foreign Direct Investment in Mon State, Burma’, a report focusing on the effects from the recent surge of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) coming into Mon State, Burma. Report in English | Burmese Read more
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 26 June 2016 (Burmese)
/in Video NewsThe video documentation of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 26 June 2016 in Burmese.
TRAINED TO TORTURE
/in ND-Burma Members' ReportsSystematic war crimes by the Burma Army in Ta’ang areas of northern Shan State (March 2011 – March 2016)
TWO documentation of human rights violations in Ta’ang areas of northern Shan State from March 2011 to March 2016 provides evidence that the Burma Army is committing war crimes, on a widespread, systematic basis – in particular torture, shelling of civilian targets, and forcing civilians to be porters and human shields.
Since 2011, despite the ongoing peace process, the Burma Army has been expanding its forces and launching large-scale offensives against ethnic resistance forces in northern Shan State, including the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). The number of Burma Army troops in Ta’ang areas has increased fourfold from over 3,000 in 2011 to over 12,000 in 2016, with at least 7 combat divisions deployed from central Burma. Fierce attacks, including aerial bombing, have caused displacement of over 14,000 Ta’ang villagers, most of whom remain unable to return home.
Click Here to Download.
Acknowledgment and Rehabilitation of Torture Survivors is Key to Building Peace and Democracy
/in OthersInternational Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 26 June 2016
Acknowledgment and Rehabilitation of Torture Survivors is Key to Building Peace and Democracy
The Network for Human Rights-Documentation-Burma (ND-Burma), Wimutti Volunteer Group (WVG), Ta’ang Women Organisation (TWO) and Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR)are calling for acknowledgment and rehabilitation of torture survivors.
ND-Burma, WVG and TWO, AJAR are jointly organising a public event in Yangon to mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The event aims at honouring and strengthening the voices of torture survivors in their struggle for accountability and dignity.
In Burma/Myanmar, torture against civilians takes place during police detention and interrogation, including of political prisoners, as well as in conflict and post-conflict zones in ethnic areas. Torture includes acts of sexual violence perpetrated by State officials. State institutions have an obligation to put an end to the practice of torture.
Survivors have a right to reparations. In particular, acknowledgment and rehabilitation should be a priority of the government. Urgent needs of torture survivors include: access to health care, psychosocial support (trauma healing) and socio-economic empowerment.
Yangon, 26 June 2016
ND-Burma, WVG, TWO and AJAR
Contact persons:
– Ko Han Gyi, ND-Burma, + 66 (0)8 1961 5992
– Khin Mi Mi Khine, WVG, + 95 (0) 97 947 31415
– Lway Poe Jaing Kee, TWO, + 95 (0)933179 203
– Patrick Burgess AJAR , +95 (0)9 25 4413 447)
NOTES:
For more information, please see:
About 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. Seven member organizations and nine affiliatesorganization seek to collectively use the truth of what communities in Burma have endured to challenge the regime’s power through present-day advocacy as well as prepare for justice and accountability measures in a potential transition. ND-Burma conducts fieldwork trainings; coordinates members’ input into a common database using Martus, an open-source software developed by Benetech; and engages in joint-advocacy campaigns. When possible, ND-Burma also collaborates with other human rights organizations in all aspects of its work. Please visit www.nd-burma.org
About WVG
Wimutti Volunteer Group (WVG) is a community-based organization, which was created in 2009. Wimutti is a Pali word (Myanmar ancient literature), which means “freedom”. All of WVG members are socially minded volunteers. WVG is very active in communities doing social work, humanitarian support, and providing educational charity to children from poverty-stricken families. WVG is directly engaging with vulnerable people to create a healthy societal environment through research, advocacy, networking, and improving their collective capacity development. WVG has a special program for strengthening women former political prisoners.
About TWO
The Palaung Women’s Organization (PWO) was established in the year 2000 in response to the lack of women actively participating within other Palaung organizations. PWO changed the strategy to operate its activities more with local communities (remote area). Therefore, according to the 5th congress of PWO which conducted in Jan 2013 we decided to change our organization name as Ta’ang Women’s Organization (TWO) to operate our activities effectively closely with local communities. TWO was formed with the intention of educating and empowering women so that they could develop and strengthen their own self-determination and achieve equality of participation. TWO is involved in the struggle for democracy in Myanmar and works to promote women’s rights and human right in the communities. TWO’s mission is to advocate and advance the status of women in field of development and working forwards achieving gender equality, justice, peace and democratic society.
About AJAR
AJAR (Asia Justice and Rights) is a regional human rights organization based in Jakarta. AJAR works to increase the capacity of local and national organization in the fight against entrenched impunity and to contribute to building cultures based on accountability, justice and a willingness to learn from the root causes of mass human rights violations in Asia Pacific region.
Please visit: www.asia-ajar.org
ND-Burma Calls for an End to Torture on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
/in Press Releases and StatementsJune 26, 2016
Today, June 26, is International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. ND-Burma expresses our solidarity with and support for the hundreds of thousands of victims of torture and their families throughout the world. On this day, we feel it is important to bring light to the torture still being perpetrated in Burma and call for immediate action by the government to bring an end to these atrocious acts.
Torture was, and still is used in Burma as a weapon to suppress dissent by denying victims the inherent dignity of the human being. Torture has a lasting impact on the victim’s physical and psychological well-being and often exposes them to lasting trauma. In Burma, torture has routinely been perpetrated against political prisoners and members of ethnic minorities particularly in conflict areas. While there is hope for improvements in human rights under a new government who has promised to make national reconciliation a priority, ND-Burma continues to document cases of torture throughout the country.
Torture has been carried out systematically in prisons and detention centers in Burma for years. Political prisoners, especially, have been subjected to a variety of methods of torture. A recent report by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) and Former Political Prisoner Society (FPPS) demonstrated the systematic and widespread nature of torture in Burma, with 72 percent of former political prisoners surveyed reported having been subject to physical torture and 75 percent to psychological torture. The report details various methods of torture including beatings with rods and chains, hooding, forced stress positions, genital mutilation, electric shocks, sleep deprivation and solitary confinement. Victims of these abuses remain throughout the country in desperate need of support and rehabilitation.
The extent of the use of torture in Burma is particularly pronounced in areas with non-signatory ethnic armed organizations (EAOs). The intensification of ongoing conflict between EAOs and the Burma Army has caused many human rights violations, including arbitrary detention – often justified under the Unlawful Association Act – and torture. One torture survivor, arrested by the Burma Army outside his house in Kachin State in December 2011, was accused of being an insurgent and tortured to extract a confession. “Even though I denied being an insurgent member and insisted I was a civilian, they slashed me with a dagger each time I denied it. They slashed my neck with the dagger six times in total. After this they tortured me to the point of disfiguration. They kept me tied up for five days and starved me.” This man’s detention, interrogation and torture lasted for over two months before he was sentenced to two years imprisonment under the Unlawful Association Act.
Ta’ang Women’s Organization (TWO) and Ta’ang Students and Youth Organisation (TSYU) continue to document cases of arbitrary arrest and torture by the Burma Army and EAOs across Shan State. Just this month, the Shan Human Rights Foundation documented the torture of five villagers from Shan State by the Burma Army, two of them under suspicion of being Shan rebel fighters. Moreover, they accused the Burma Army of having killed three civilians during clashes with the SSPP/SSA-N. In Kachin State, two villagers from Waingmaw Township, reported that they were detained and tortured by the Burma Army under suspicion of being members of the Kachin Independent Army (KIA) on May 23. The severe beating of a civilian by four police was also reported in Arakan State on May 25. Unfortunately, these are not isolated cases, and are common practice during clashes between the Burma army and EAOs.
Torture is strictly prohibited under international law. Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states that “no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” As a UN member state, Burma is obliged to adhere to this standard. The Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) and its Optional Protocol (OPCAT) further embeds the illegality of torture and obligates states that ratify them to take measures to prevent acts of torture as well as to provide all torture victims with effective and prompt redress, compensation and appropriate social, psychological, medical and other forms of rehabilitation. Under OPCAT these measures are to be periodically reviewed by an independent monitoring body. Currently Burma has not signed or ratified the convention or its optional protocol.
A flawed judicial system, hopelessly inadequate prison system, lack of domestic legal safeguards, ineffective human rights monitoring body, and widespread culture of impunity allows torture to persist in Burma.
In the spirit of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, ND-Burma urges the government to:
Ratification of key human right treaties will demonstrate the government’s commitment to bring a permanent end to the practice of torture in Burma.
Contact details:;
Ma Su Su Swe (Burma/Myanmar): +95 (0) 9425027681
Ko Tate Naing (Thailand): +66 (0) 812878751