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
- Open letter from Myanmar, regional and international civil society organizations to ASEAN to End Myanmar Military’s Violence, Advance Accountability and Operationalize Cross-border Humanitarian Aid
- Press Release – Rights-Based Reform: ASEAN Five Years on from the 5-Point Consensus
- Rights-Based Reform: ASEAN Five Years on from 5-Point Consensus
- [Open Letter] SEANF must remove membership of junta-controlled Myanmar National Human Rights Commission
- President Win Myint freed in broad Myanmar prisoner amnesty
AAPP and United States Campaign for Burma (2008) The Future in the Dark
/in ND-Burma Members' ReportsThe Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP) and the U.S. Campaign for Burma (USCB), believe that an immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Tin Oo, is an important and essential indicator to measure the positive development of the national reconciliation and democratization process in Burma (also known as Myanmar). Therefore, the people of Burma, the international community – especially the main bodies of the United Nations – and the leaders of the world have repeatedly and consistently demanded that the Burmese military regime release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally. The regime has claimed repeatedly that there are no political prisoners in Burma and that courts convicted all those arrested and imprisoned for criminal acts.
Even so, the Burmese military regime at times purports to bow the international community’s demands in order to avoid international pressure. The regime claims that it has released tens of thousands of prisoners from various prisons as a special gesture to the United Nations. In reality, only a small number of political prisoners were included among those released. Recently, the regime announced that it released 9002 convicted prisoners from various prisons on 23 September 2008. However, in actuality only ten political prisoners were included among those released. U Win Htein, senior assistant to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, was released on 23 September and rearrested the next day and put back in the Kathar Prison.
While the regime released only a small number of political prisoners, a large number of democracy activists have been arrested and imprisoned. Therefore, despite repeated requests from the international community, the number of political prisoners in Burma has steadily increased in the last six years, from between 1200 and 13005 in August 2003 to over 2123 in September 2008.
Download: The future in the dark AAPP/USCB (880kb)
Eastward Bound
/in ND-Burma Members' ReportsSummary of key findings
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AAPP (2005) The Darkness We See
/in ND-Burma Members' ReportsThere is an increased focus on the conditions for prisoners and others who are kept in detention in the world today and there are good reasons for that. The number of prisoners worldwide is increasing.
The bad news is that the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims again and again receives alarming reports describing torture in interrogation centres, places of detention and prisons.
The good news is that today we do have the international instruments that are needed to improve the conditions for detainees. There is a total prohibition of torture in the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture provides the establishment of national as well as international visiting mechanism to monitor the conditions in detention places in each country.
It is beyond doubt that Burma will benefit from international visiting mechanisms, which comprise of independent doctors and other medical professionals amongst a multidisciplinary team. From this report it is evident that Burma must improve the prison conditions. The torture as described by former prisoners has been physical, psychological and sexual. The inhuman prison conditions give rise to disease and illness among the prisoners. The standard of the prison health care system amounts not only to ill-treatment but to torture.
Safe spaces for an ongoing dialogue are necessary and even a pre-requisite to fight against torture and cruel and inhuman or degrading treatment in places of detention and prisons. It is commendable that the authors of this report at the risk of their own lives have provided such a detailed analysis of the torture that has taken place in Burma. Documentation such as in this report is the very basis to inform our thinking about how best to promote change. It is a prerequisite for the prevention of torture as well as for the rehabilitation of torture victims.
Download: The darkness we see (680kb)
Driven Away: Trafficking of Kachin Women on the China-Burma Border
/in ND-Burma Members' ReportsAn alarming trend is developing in ethnic Kachin communities of Burma. Growing poverty, caused by failed state policies, is driving increasing numbers of young people to migrate in search of work. As a result, young women and girls are disappearing without trace, Read more
AAPP (2004) A land where Buddhist Monks are Disrobed
/in ND-Burma Members' ReportsIn Burma, anyone can be detained for being involved in human rights advocacy, democratic activities or peaceful demonstrations. Thus, political activists are not the only stratum of society vulnerable to arrest by the military intelligence, Buddhist monks are also subject to the same fate. It is estimated that there are approximately 300 monks and novices in Burma’s prisons, whereas the number of political prisoners lingers at about 1400 to date.
Since the pro-democracy uprising occurred in 1988, the military regime has constantly attempted to crackdown on all strata of society including Buddhist monks who are assumed to be potentially significant revolutionary forces. During the demonstrations that occurred in August and September 1988, the regime killed masses of peaceful demonstrators including monks, students and civilians.
Although Buddhist monks have been involved in the movement by non-violent means, they have not been excluded from arrest and imprisonment. Since there is no rule of law but only ‘law and order’ in Burma, all arrests come without a warrant and the victims face brutal interrogations at military detention centers. Almost all the lawsuits concerning such arrests have been tried secretly without granting the accused any rights to seek legal counsel. Trials have been perfunctory; the so-called judges just read out the charges. While the accused is asked to plead guilty or not, the court announces its verdict which has invariably been one of guilt.
Most of the monks, including novices, that were arrested were charged under Section 5 (J) of the Emergency Provisions Act which is a widely worded law that has been used to suppress dissent even in the absence of a proclaimed ‘State of Emergency’. Some monks were charged under Article 295 of the Penal Code which describe the charge as ‘of offenses relating to religion’.
Download: A land where Buddhist monks are disrobed and detained in dungeons (725kb)
AAPP (2001) Spirit for Survival
/in ND-Burma Members' ReportsTo survive, one needs mental power. It can bring not only physical changes but also great achievements. We can say that it controls a Man’s vice and virtue. Without mental power, the ability to survive under harsh conditions can be seriously affected. However, with mental power, Man can overcome all kinds of difficulties. This mental power can have an effect many times stronger than even nuclear power.
Thousands of political prisoners have been in prisons in Burma – which has gone from being a developing country to one of the least developed countries, through misrule by the authorities. They are put in prison for their beliefs and activities supporting democracy in their country. The last 13 years have been the toughest since the first military coup in 1962 when political activities were totally prohibited.
The current military regime has been ruling in numerous cruel ways after the crack down on the peoples’ uprising in 1988. They have neglected the desires of the people as they seem intent on holding power. The people are living in constant danger under this kind of rule and can be arrested and imprisoned any time they criticize the authorities. It’s obvious that activists face terrible conditions purely for their beliefs and actions.
Download: Spirit for Survival (725kb)