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
- Rodrigo Roa Duterte makes first appearance before the ICC: confirmation of charges hearing scheduled for 23 September 2025
- Myanmar junta troops massacre 11 villagers, most too old to flee, residents say
- 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
June Justice Newsletter (June 2020)
/in Justice NewslettersConflict Continues Amid the Pandemic, Fueling Insecurity and Unrest in Burma
COVID-19 has continued to further expose the quickly deteriorating human rights situation in Burma. The escalation of fighting amid the pandemic has allowed more violations to take place with impunity. This month, conflict escalated in Rakhine State as several human rights groups released documentation on the extent of the alleged abuses, calling for immediate lifts on restrictions to humanitarian aid. Frontline volunteers have also spoken out, saying gaps remain in COVID-19 response and are appealing to the National League for Democracy government to provide safety equipment and training to those supporting the relief effort. Perhaps even more concerning are those who have been detained for attempting to transport food to IDPs as was the case for 12 individuals who appeared in court in Mrauk-U on 23 June. The need for food and materials has been compromised, particularly in Rakhine and Chin by fighting, where the Burma Army has blocked land and water food supply lines. Challenges remain and are fueling insecurities in communities.
At the beginning of the month, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Arakan Army released a statement with an offer to extend a bilateral ceasefire with the Burma Army to advance further peace negotiations. In response, the President’s Office spokesperson said the government would be continuing their operations in Rakhine, justifying it on the basis that the recently branded ‘terrorist organization’, the Arakan Army, is committing extremist acts. Meanwhile, the peace process has emerged as a distant prospect for reconciliation, especially as political parties focus their energy on the upcoming November election. In a piece from Frontier Myanmar, Sithu Aung Myint, writes that genuine peace in Burma is truly only possible if all stakeholders (namely the government, EAOs and Burma Army) are willing to negotiate and make compromises.
This month, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on human rights in Burma. The country has been told to grant ‘full and unhindered access’ to diplomats, independent observers and the media. Burma rejected the draft resolution, which though unsurprising sets a worrying tone for the future of the country’s affairs.
Rakhine State
Rakhine Leaders Submit Resignation Over Fears of Arrest | 5 June 2020
Out of fear of arrest by the Burma Army, over 50 village and ward administrators in Myebon township quit after three colleagues were detained on terrorism charges. COVID-19 has also exacerbated fears further with government soldiers increasing seizures and arrests, and expanding operations.
Shelling in Sittwe Kills One, Injures Five | 11 June 2020
A 7th grade student was one of the victims injured by shelling during clashes between the Burma Army and the Arakan Army. Another woman in her 90s was killed. Fighting continues in Western Burma despite ceasefire calls.
Burma Army Orders Villagers to Leave for Clearance Operations | 26 June 2020
Over 10,000 people were forced to leave their homes so the Burma Army could advance their operations against the Arakan Army. Those forced to flee were from 17 communities living in Kyauktan village. Over 160 000 civilians have been displaced across the 18-month civil war.
Following this order, the embassies of Australia, Canada, the US and UK governments expressed concern over the clearance operations writing that the ‘protection of civilians, their property and livelihoods by all parties must be prioritized.’ The United Nations also articulated worry about the humanitarian impact of conflict in Rakhine and Southern Chin States calling on ‘all parties to respect international humanitarian law.’
Clashes in Rathedaung Injure IDP | 26 June 2020
A civilian living in an IDP camp near the town of Rathedaung was shot in both legs during fighting between the Burma Army and Arakan Army.
Chin State
Bombing in Western Burma, Injures & Kills Civilians | 6 June 2020
Chin villagers have been forced to flee heavy fighting between the Burma Army and the Arakan Army. A bombing in Paletwa wounded 12 and killed 9. The devastating loss of life continues to take place without accountability.
Shan State
Pa-O Farmers Face Trial | 11 June 2020
Farmers in southern Shan likely face trial as the Burma Army refuses to drop trespassing charges against them over a land dispute. Over 200 civil society organizations accused the Burma Army of confiscating and destroying local land. Land confiscation amid COVID-19 has been a reoccurring instance in Shan State, as well as in Rakhine.
Burma Army and the RCSS Clashed in Hsipaw | 15 June 2020
While there are no reported casualties, fighting between the Restoration Council of Shan State and the Burma Army broke out in Hsipaw, where farmers are concerned that their harvest before monsoon will be delayed because of ongoing clashes.
Justice Delayed, Justice Denied say Shan Human Rights Groups on Anniversary of Hsai Khao and Tad Fa Ho Massacres | 16 June 2020
Shan human rights groups are still waiting for justice in remembrance of the 56 villagers massacred by the Burma Army, 23-years ago in Kunhing township. The lost lives marked the largest single-day killing during the clearance operations in Shan State between 1996-98.
Farmers Trapped in Conflict Zone | 20 June 2020
When fighting slowed in Kutkai, Shan State, IDPs worked on rotational farms. The recent escalation in clashes now has them trapped in the middle of a conflict zone where fears from their families has been heightened by a lack of information about their safety.
KIA, Burma Army Clash for Four Days | 22 June 2020
Tensions in Shan State have been increasing as the Burma Army and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) have clashed for four days straight in Kutkai township, northern Shan. Fighting is taking place despite the Burma Army issuing a unilateral ceasefire from 10 May to the end of August. The KIA has not signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement.
Burma Army Fires Artillery Shell into Kyaukme, Killing Civilian | 30 June 2020
Indiscriminate shelling by the Burma Army in Pankyan village in northern Shan killed a man and injured a woman. Burma Army deployments in eastern Shan are also threatening the safety and security of IDPs along the Thai border as over 800 troops entered the area in June as military tensions increase with the Restoration Council of Shan State.
Karen State
Mutraw District Shelled by Burma Army, Civilians Wounded | 2 June 2020
Two civilians were wounded in Wah Klo Htar village when the Burma Army indiscriminately shelled into villages in Mutraw district. The father and daughter who were struck were immediately rushed to the hospital and discharged with non-life-threatening injuries. According to the Karen National Union, the Burma Army has increased their military operations in border areas and displaced civilians.
Free Burma Rangers Documents Rights Abuses in Karen State | 3 June 2020
Documentation by Free Burma Rangers revealed human rights abuses by the Burma Army including shelling and killing of activist, Saw They Mi. Their operations also forcibly displaced over 100 villagers.
KNU Says the Government Used the NCA to Increase Troops | 3 June 2020
Statement by the Karen National Union (KNU) alleges the Burma Army took advantage of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement by doubling the number of troops in Karen State in Brigades 5 and 7. Under the agreement signed in 2012 between the KNU and the Burma Army, troop movements must be in consultation with the two parties. Civilians have been forcibly displaced as a result.
Karen Peace Support Network Release Report on Destruction of COVID-19 Checkpoints | 16 June 2020
The Karen Peace Support Network released a short report on the destruction of COVID-19 checkpoints, which detailed the Burma Army’s new offensive in Mutraw District.
Karen Human Rights Group Releases Statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict | 22 June 2020
In marking the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, Karen Human Rights Group called on the Burma government and Army to investigate past sexual abuses across Burma and ensure that those responsible are held accountable without giving any excuses.
Kachin State
Anniversary Marks Nine Years of Conflict in Kachin | 9 June 2020
On the nine-year anniversary of armed conflict resuming in Kachin State, the Joint Strategy Team called for humanitarian needs to be met in northern Burma. To date, the war has displaced over 120 000 civilians over 170 camps across Kachin and northern Shan State. ND-Burma member, the Kachin Women’s Association Thailand joined the call.
Then, just after the nine-year marking of renewed fighting, the Burma Army and Kachin Independence Army clashed in northern Shan State. Civilians expressed fear and concern over the escalating fighting, stating that they ‘not dare go outside their homes.’
IDPs in Laiza, Kachin State have also called for aid to repair broken shelters as a result of heavy rains and strong winds.
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of expression also continued to decline, leading the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet to speak out against censorship amid COVID-19. She called for the stop of misinformation or else the credibility of institutions will only be weakened further.
More Charges for Peacock Generation Performers | 11 June 2020
Peacock Generation street performers were sentenced with additional charges for their satirical performance about the Burma Army. The sentencing speaks volumes to the decline of freedom of expression in the country and rising censorship.
Open Letter to the President and the State Counsellor of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on Internet Shutdown | 19 June 2020
Arakanese political parties, civil society organizations and the media addressed Burma’s democratic transition in their letter expressing concern over the Internet shutdown in Rakhine and Chin where approximately 800,000 people have been impacted.
One Year of Internet Ban in Rakhine, Chin | 21 June 2020
In February 2020, the Ministry of Transport and Communications announced they were imposing an information shutdown in five townships in conflict torn Rakhine and Chin States. The reinstatement followed previous restrictions on mobile Internet in nine townships nearly one year ago on 21 June 2019. The decision immediately came under fire by international human rights watchdogs including Human Rights Watch, Fortify Rights and independent experts appointed by the Human Rights Council.
Over a year later, activists continue to call for the lift of the world’s longest Internet shutdown. The government has given no indication of resuming access to the thousands of civilians impacted by the shutdown, despite the vital need for information especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic which has so far claimed the lives of six individuals and infected nearly 300. Six activists were charged by the Burma police for protesting the Internet ban, and have been taken into custody for hanging posters in Yangon on 21 June. The banner called into question the integrity of the Internet ban, suggesting it as a coverup to possible atrocities.
It is also worth noting that the number of clashes has doubled after Internet shutdown.
Member Update
ND-Burma is a network that consists of 13-member organisations who represent a range of ethnic nationalities, women and former political prisoners. ND-Burma member organisations have been documenting human rights abuses and fighting for justice for victims since 2004. The network consists of nine Full Members and four Affiliate Members as follows:
Full Members:
Affiliate Members:
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 26 June 2020 Achieve Justice by Combating Impunity
/in Press Releases and StatementsInternational Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 26 June 2020
Achieve Justice by Combating Impunity
On this International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Women’s League of Burma (WLB), Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma), Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (AAPP), Vimutti Women’s Organization (VWO) and Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) are calling for an end to torture, and for reparation and justice for torture surviors.
To mark this important day, and amidst restrictions to organise gatherings, we created an animation film entitled “Achieve Justice by Combating Impunity”, which illustrates how torture is used in Myanmar and the impact it has on survivors.
In Myanmar, torture is widely used in conflict areas. Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, despite a wide call globally and locally for an immediate ceasefire, the Myanmar army announced only a limited ceasefire which does not cover the most active conflicts. On the contrary, the army is intensifying fighting in several areas including in Rakhine State, which leads to additional human rights violations including torture, against civilans. In several recent cases brought to light by social media, the Myanmar army was forced to admit that their troops committed torture, but justice processes are still elusive.
In addition, sexual violence as a form of torture in ethnic conflict areas continues to be documented, as well as the use of torture in detention centers and interrogation centers, often in an effort to procure information or to force confessions. It is the government’s responsibility to stop and prevent torture in its juridiction, and to prosecute and punish those who commit it. However, impunity still prevails and perpetrators remain unpunished.
In this context of the Myanmar government’s failure to take action, the recent proceedings at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are welcome steps towards ending the culture of impunity and bringing justice for torture survivors.
The Myanmar government and the international community also have a duty to protect the rights of torture survivors and to provide appropriate remedies for the crimes committed against them. In addition to reparations, they must provide torture survivors with urgent interim relief, acknowledge the wrongs done to them, and prevent torture from recurring.
We call on the government of Myanmar to:
ND-Burma, WLB, AAPP, AJAR and VWO
Contact persons:
· Lway Poe Ngeal-09781329742- WLB
· Ko Aung Zaw Oo-09421039493- ND-Burma
· Ko Aung Myo Kyaw-09428117348- AAPP
About Women’s League of Burma (WLB) www.womenofburma.org
The Women’s League of Burma (WLB) is an umbrella organization comprised of 13 women’s organizations of different ethnic backgrounds from Burma. WLB was founded on 9th December 1999. Its mission is to work for women’s empowerment and advancement of the status of women, and to work for the increased participation of women in all spheres of society in the democracy movement, and in the peace and national reconciliation process through capacity building, advocacy, research and documentation.
Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma) www.nd-burma.org
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.
About Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) www.aappb.org
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), also known as AAPP, is a non-profit human rights organization based in Mae Sot, Thailand. AAPP was founded in 2000 by former political prisoners living in exile on the Thai/Burma border. Since then, the organization has been run by former political prisoners, with two offices being opened inside Burma in 2012, one in Rangoon and the other in Mandalay. AAPP advocates and lobbies for the release of remaining political prisoners and for the improvement of the lives of political prisoners after their release. The various assistance programs for political prisoners and their family members are aimed at ensuring they have access to education, vocational trainings, mental health counseling and healthcare. Therefore, AAPP has tried to promote civil and political rights for all ethnic groups who live in Burma.
About Vimutti Women’s Organization (VWO)
Vimutti Women’s Organization (VWO) is a community-based organization, which was created in 2009. Vimutti is a Pali word (Myanmar ancient literature), which means “freedom”. All VWO members are socially minded volunteers. VWO is very active in communities doing social work, humanitarian support, and providing educational charity to children from poverty-stricken families. VWO is directly engaging with vulnerable people to create a healthy societal environment through research, advocacy, networking, and improving their collective capacity development. VWO has a special program for strengthening women former political prisoners.
About Asia Justice And Rights (AJAR) www.asia-ajar.org
AJAR 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.
International Day In Support Of Victims Of Torture
/in Multimedia, News, Video NewsInternational Day In Support Of Victims Of Torture (History)
/in Multimedia, Video NewsAung San Suu Kyi’s government must sign the UN torture convention and make it law, before the election
/in NewsIn 2017, soldiers in northern Shan state detained a Kachin man in his 50s who had been displaced by fighting and was working as an overnight guard at a tea factory.
They accused him and five others from the factory of being Kachin Independence Army soldiers. Then they blindfolded him and took him to an unknown location, where they burned his knees with candles and made him kneel on the sand-covered floor. They beat him and broke his arm.
When he was released after two days, he was unable to afford the long trip to a hospital to get proper treatment for his arm, leaving him disabled. The injury means he can longer work to provide for his family.
As the world marks the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Myanmar’s police and soldiers continue to inflict brutal and cruel punishments on people with impunity.
The National League for Democracy (NLD) government has had five years to try to rein in these excesses, but has done almost nothing. Myanmar has still not signed the UN Convention Against Torture, and so far remains out of reach of any international justice mechanisms that might bring an end to the systematic use of torture here.
Justice denied
Most torture victims in Myanmar never tell their stories, according to a forthcoming report, called Seeking Justice, by the Kachin Women Association – Thailand.
Torture goes unreported for several reasons. First, victims and community members are afraid of retaliation by the perpetrators, who are most often members of the Myanmar military.
They also do not trust the police or the courts, and for good reason. And even if they do want to take their chances in a judicial system beholden to the military, the victims often lack the resources to do so. They are largely from rural areas and IDP camps, with little means to pay for repeated trips to court or legal fees.
The report documents 51 cases of serious human rights abuses for which the perpetrators have not faced any real consequences. The cases, all from between 2011 and 2019 in Kachin and northern Shan state, include rape, murder, disappearances, and arbitrary detention.
Victims in 11 of the 51 cases reported experiencing torture. The report reveals that most cases involving torture were people charged under the Unlawful Associations Act by the military. The law forbids interacting with certain rebel groups.
For victims who tried to take their cases to court, interference by the military is reported as the main obstacle to getting justice.
Myanmar’s constitution, as well as the Defense Services Act, dictates that any cases involving torture committed by military personnel on duty must be handled by courts martial. The outcome of such trials is therefore ultimately up to the Commander-in-Chief.
Weeks after a viral video surfaced of soldiers torturing five handcuffed Rakhine civilians, their family members said the men have still not received any medical attention while in detention.
Human rights organisations, both local and international, are dealing with a mounting number of cases as armed conflict and violence continue across the country. Scores of civilians in Rakhine and Chin state have been arrested, tortured and killed in the past few months. Amid fresh fighting in northern Shan state, the military’s Light Infantry Battalions 88 and 99 have used civilians as porters.
Victims of torture live in fear without any recourse to justice. They are often too afraid of reprisals to press charges, and face harassment and attempts to silence them if they do. Cases that have been investigated were far from fair, transparent or just.
The NLD must act
When the NLD came into power in 2015, many hoped to see a national plan reaching out to victims of human rights abuses, including torture. But those hopes have long been abandoned.
Civil war continues and there has been no progress in peace negotiations, nor any meaningful attempt at reconciliation with the country’s diverse ethnic and religious communities.
At the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council earlier this week, Myanmar rejected a resolution to extend the mandate of the human rights envoy to the country. The resolution also called on Myanmar “to ensure full respect for International Humanitarian Law” and “allow free and unhindered access to provide humanitarian assistance.”
Kyaw Moe Tun, Myanmar’s permanent representative to the UN, asked the international community to be “non-confrontational” and use a “dialogue-based approach” when addressing human rights issues in Myanmar.
Based on its five years in office, it is safe to say that State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s government has no plan to offer justice, reconciliation or even recognition to victims of torture living with immense psychological trauma.
She and her government have also actively harmed their cause by choosing to side with the military and help cover up its abuses against Rohingya, Rakhine, Chin, and other ethnic groups in western Myanmar.
The NLD has talked a lot about its desire for reconciliation, but this is meaningless if the government keeps refusing to address past abuses and openly supporting current ones. Many feel the focus on reconciliation is simply a bid to appease the military.
The NLD may not have perpetrated the crimes itself, and it may not have control of the military. But as the democratically elected party of power, it has a responsibility to at least try to use what leverage it has to keep the military in check; that includes speaking out against its abuses.
In the next few months, before the general election, the NLD has a chance to show some good will towards this country’s ethnic and religious minorities by signing and ratifying the UN Convention Against Torture, and adopting it into national law.
The government should also provide a meaningful space for torture survivors in the upcoming Panglong Conference, which will be the last event in the peace process before the election.
It also needs to recognise survivors’ rights to justice and support them through the judicial process. This, more than anything, would help prevent future acts of torture.
If the NLD genuinely wants peace and reconciliation, it is well past time it took bold political action like this; Myanmar’s torture victims have no use for more empty words.
Stella Naw is a human rights activist who writes about peace and conflict in Myanmar. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect Myanmar Now’s editorial stance.
Myanmar Now
On World Refugee Day, end the ongoing armed conflict, human rights violations and humanitarian crises in Myanmar
/in Press Releases and StatementsJoint Statement, 19 June 2020
On World Refugee Day, end the ongoing armed conflict, human rights violations and humanitarian crises in Myanmar
Ahead of 20 June, 2020 World Refugee Day, we the 123 undersigned organizations call for an immediate end to the ongoing armed conflict, human rights violations and humanitarian crises in ethnic areas and for the establishment of a genuine federal democracy that protects and respects the rights of all people from Myanmar.
We are deeply concerned that despite the transition to so-called democracy since 2011, the world’s longest civil war has continued to displace hundreds of thousands of ethnic people who have sought safety within different parts of their ancestral land within Myanmar as well as in neighboring countries, including Thailand, Bangladesh, India and Malaysia. This ongoing displacement is a testament to the failed peace process, as fighting between the Myanmar military and the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) has continued, even in areas where the Myanmar government and the EAOs have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement.
Meanwhile, the main perpetrator of human rights violations, the Myanmar military, continues to enjoy impunity under the 2008 military-drafted Constitution. The same violent, systematic and widespread tactics that were used by the Myanmar military against other ethnic people who have been displaced is now being wielded with might against civilians in Rakhine and Chin States, as whole villages are burned to ashes. Civilians – including women and children – are being killed by airstrikes and arbitrarily detained and tortured by the Myanmar military. These acts are in direct contravention of the Geneva Convention, and are being carried out under the cover of an Internet blackout that persists in eight townships in Rakhine and Chin States. In other ethnic areas, such as Shan State, torture and extrajudicial killing of ethnic Shan civilians is ongoing while for Ta’ang communities they live in fear of arbitrary arrest, torture and forced portering. In Karen State, fighting between the Myanmar military and the Karen National Liberation Army – the armed wing of the Karen National Union – has been ongoing, leading to displacement of villagers, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, landmines throughout the country continue to pose a threat to villagers in conflict-affected areas.
The failing peace process and the ongoing human rights violations are deeply concerning for many of the nearly 100,000, mostly Karen and Karenni refugees who have remained in the nine refugee camps along the Thailand-Myanmar border. They are struggling to maintain their livelihoods and survive as funding for refugees has decreased drastically. If the ongoing conflict and violence had not already made clear the lack of preparedness to receive refugees, the handful of recent returnees’ lack of access to education and health, identification, and livelihood has.
Meanwhile, those displaced inside the country in Myanmar also suffer from limited humanitarian aid as we see some of the worst conditions for IDPs that we have observed in decades. For example, in places like Mon State where government’s delivery of aid to remote locations has not reached those in need amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, while there are 110,000 IDPs in Kachin and northern Shan State, international humanitarian aid to the approximately 40,000 IDPs who are residing in Kachin Independence Organization-controlled areas has been blocked by the government since 2016, and the emergence of COVID-19 has made it even more difficult for local aid groups to reach these populations. Furthermore, IDP camps such as Ei Tu Hta in Karen State and the six Shan camps along the Shan-Thailand border are also suffering from a debilitating lack of essential aid. We are concerned that these IDPs inside the country may be left to starve without any food during the rainy season.
We are also deeply concerned that the homes and land that belong to both refugees and IDPs has been and is being confiscated by the Myanmar military, businesses and other malign actors. Land laws only further legitimize and facilitate large-scale land grabbing without recognition of customary land laws. There is currently no government land policy or system that provides restitution of housing, land and property for displaced persons that complies with the Principles on Housing and Property Restitution for Refugees and IDPs (The Pinheiro Principles).
Alarmingly, The Ministry of Social Welfare Relief and Resettlement-led National IDP Camp Closure Strategy in Karen, Kachin, Shan and Rakhine States is moving forward without consultation with the displaced communities themselves or civil society organizations who have not been able to receive any information or offer input into the strategy. These areas have all observed clashes in recent years, displacing thousands, while in Rakhine State, fierce fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army has led to the displacement of 160,000 people since the end of 2018.
In addition, in the world’s largest and overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh, over 900,000 Rohingya refugees remain as a consequence of Myanmar military’s ‘clearance operations’ in 2017. Plans to repatriate refugees have been unsuccessful as Rohingya’s right to self-identification, citizenship and legal protection has been denied. They remain in the refugee camps, struggling for their survival and facing uncertainty to return to their places of origin in northern Rakhine State. They, like many ethnic displaced communities, continue to call for justice and accountability for the grave crimes they have endured.
Refugees and IDPs have been driven out of their homes and their rights and livelihood deprived but let us be clear that they have hopes and dreams. They yearn for security and a better future. They want to contribute to making their communities a better place. We thus recommend the following to the Myanmar Government:
• Take concrete steps towards a genuine peace process that addresses the root causes of the conflict, including ending military offensives, holding the Myanmar Military to account for human rights violations, the removal of Myanmar Military from ethnic areas, with villager settlements as priority, and amending the 2008 Constitution to establish a genuine federal democratic system of governance based on equality and self-determination;
• Ensure the full and meaningful participation of displaced populations in the decision-making level of all policy processes which affect them;
• Allow unrestricted humanitarian access to all sites of displacement, including allowing humanitarian actors to reach EAO-controlled areas without legal consequence or other types of harassment, intimidation or threat;
• Ensure that the agenda on housing, land and property rights for any returning IDPs and refugees is explicitly and formally included, discussed and agreed for implementation as an integral component in the peace process, in line with the Pinheiro Principles;
• Develop a policy and implement a system with full and meaningful participation of refugees and IDPs to provide restitution of housing, land and property for displaced persons with an appropriate timeline that complies with the Pinheiro Principles, and if restitution is not possible, provide adequate compensation for the current value of the land, crops and livestock that were destroyed due to confiscation or displacement;
• Recognize existing ethnic governance and service provision structures established, administered and maintained by EAOs to be in line with the federal democratic governance principles;
The above recommendations are to facilitate a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of displaced ethnic communities from Myanmar. The undersigned organizations stand in solidarity with all refugees and internally displaced people across the world ahead of the World Refugee Day in recognition of their plight, as well as their strength and courage to continue to seek a better tomorrow.
For further information, please contact:
Progressive Voice, info@progressive-voice.org
Karen Women’s Organization, kwocentral@gmail.com Kachin Women’s Association Thailand, kwat.secretariat@gmail.com
Chin Human Rights Organization, info@chinhumanrights.org
Signed by:
1. Action Committee for Democracy and Development (ACDD)
2. Albany Karen Community, NY, USA
3. All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress (AASYC)
4. Alliance Kachin Youth Union (AKYU)
5. Arakan American Community, USA
6. Arakan Rivers Network (ARN)
7. Arakanese (Rakhine) Association (NSW-Inc)
8. Arakanese (Rakhine) Association(NSW-Inc), Australia
9. Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)
10. Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP)
11. Association of United Nationalities in Japan
12. Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
13. Australian Karen Organisation Inc. (AKO Inc.)
14. Burmese Rohingya Organization UK
15. Calgary Karen Community Association (CKCA), Canada
16. California Karen Youth Forum, CA, USA
17. California Shan Society
18. Candle Lights
19. Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO)
20. Chin Refugee Committee, Delhi
21. Chin Refugee Committee, Malaysia
22. East Bago- Former Political Prisoners Network (EB-FPPN)
23. Eastern Pennsylvania Karen Community
24. Edmonton Karen Community Youth Organization, Canada
25. Equality Myanmar (EQMM)
26. Finland Karen Culture Association
27. Freedom For Burma, USA
28. Future Light Center (FLC)
29. Generation Wave (GW)
30. Genuine People’s Servants (GPS)
31. Harmony Youth Association
32. Human Rights Educators Network (HREN)
33. Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM)
34. Humanity Institute (HI)
35. International Campaign for Arakan (ICA)
36. International Karen Organization (IKO)
37. Israel Karen Organization
38. Kachin Canadian Association
39. Kachin Development Networking Group (KDNG)
40. Kachin National Organization, USA
41. Kachin National Youth Network
42. Kachin Organization of Australia
43. Kachin Refugee Committee (Malaysia)
44. Kachin Women Union (KWU)
45. Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT)
46. Karen American Association of Wisconsin (KAAW), WI, USA
47. Karen Association of Huron South Dakota
48. Karen Community Association UK
49. Karen Community in Norway
50. Karen Community in Syracuse, NY, USA
51. Karen Community London, Canada
52. Karen Community of Akron, Inc, HO, USA
53. Karen Community of Canada (KCC)
54. Karen Community of Czech Republic
55. Karen Community of Denmark
56. Karen Community of Hamilton, Canada
57. Karen Community of Iowa
58. Karen Community of Ireland
59. Karen Community of Kansas City (KS & MO)
60. Karen Community of Kitcherner & Waterloo, Canada
61. Karen Community of Leamington, Canada
62. Karen Community of Lethbridge, Canada
63. Karen Community of Louisville, KY, USA
64. Karen Community of Minnesota (KCM)
65. Karen Community of New Bern, NC, USA
66. Karen Community of North Carolina, USA
67. Karen Community of Ottawa, Canada
68. Karen Community of Regina, Canada
69. Karen Community of Saskatoon, Canada
70. Karen Community of Thunderbay, Canada
71. Karen Community of Toronto, Canada
72. Karen Community of Windsor, Canada
73. Karen Community of Winnipeg, Canada
74. Karen Community Society of British Columbia (KCSBC), Canada
75. Karen Culture Organization of Minnesota, MN, USA.
76. Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN)
77. Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
78. Karen National Community – The Netherlands
79. Karen Organisation for Relief and Development (KORD)
80. Karen Organization of America, USA
81. Karen Organization of Illinois
82. Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN)
83. Karen Refugee Committee (KRC)
84. Karen Students Network Group (KSNG)
85. Karen Swedish Community
86. Karen Women’s Organization (KWO)
87. Karen Youth of Norway (KYN)
88. Karen Youth of Toronto, Canada
89. Karenni American Association, USA
90. Karenni Human Rights Group (KnHRG)
91. Karenni Legal and Human Rights Center (KnLHRC)
92. Karenni National Women’s Organization (KNWO)
93. Karenni Refugee Committee (KnRC)
94. Karenni Social Welfare and Development Center (KSWDC)
95. Korea Karen Organisation (KKO)
96. Koung Jor Shan Refugee Camp
97. Loka Ahlinn (Social Development Organization)
98. Mae Tao Clinic (MTC)
99. Malaysia Karen Organisation (MKO)
100. Myanmar People Alliance – Shan State (MPA-SS)
101. Nationalities Alliance of Burma, USA
102. Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma)
103. New Zealand Karen Association Inc. (NZKA)
104. Overseas Karen Organisation – Japan (OKO Japan)
105. Pa-O Women’s Union (PWU)
106. Pa-O Youth Organization (PYO)
107. Progressive Voice
108. Ramhkye (Youth Rescue)
109. Relief Action Network for IDP and Refugee (RANIR)
110. Rochester Karen Community, NY, USA
111. Rohingya American Society (RAS), USA
112. Southern Youth
113. Synergy Social Harmony Organization
114. Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization (TSYU)
115. Ta’ang Women’s Organization (TWO)
116. The Seagull:Human Rights, Peace & Development
117. US Campaign for Burma
118. Utica Karen Community
119. Women’s League of Burma (WLB)
120. Women’s Peace Network (WPN)
121. World Kachin Congress
122. Wunpawng Amyu Sha Mung Bawng Rapdaw (Kachin National Consultative Assembly)
123. Youth Circle (YC)