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ND-Burma Calls for an End to Torture on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

June 26, 2016/in Press Releases and Statements

June 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 […]

“After release I had to restart my life from the beginning” The Experiences of Ex-political Prisoners in Burma and Challenges to Reintegration

June 21, 2016/in ND-Burma Members' Reports

Preface: Since the military coup d’état in 1962, Burma has been in the grip of authoritarian rule. The junta has consistently practiced oppression, torture, arbitrary detention, and long-term imprisonment against perceived enemies of the regime. As a result, since 1962, thousands of political prisoners have been incarcerated by successive regimes, from the General Ne Win […]

ND-Burma Calls for an End to Torture on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

June 26, 2016/in Press Releases and Statements

“After release I had to restart my life from the beginning” The Experiences of Ex-political Prisoners in Burma and Challenges to Reintegration

June 21, 2016/in ND-Burma Members' Reports

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ND-Burma Calls for an End to Torture on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

June 26, 2016/in Press Releases and Statements

June 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:

Implement recognition and rehabilitation programs for the many victims of torture in Burma;
Take steps to eradiate the practice of torture in Burma, starting with the ratification of UNCAT and its optional protocol;
Amend and repeal repressive legislation, such as the Unlawful Association Act, that target ethnic minorities and;
Set out a plan for prison reform.

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

“After release I had to restart my life from the beginning” The Experiences of Ex-political Prisoners in Burma and Challenges to Reintegration

June 21, 2016/in ND-Burma Members' Reports

Preface: Since the military coup d’état in 1962, Burma has been in the grip of authoritarian rule. The junta has consistently practiced oppression, torture, arbitrary detention, and long-term imprisonment against perceived enemies of the regime. As a result, since 1962, thousands of political prisoners have been incarcerated by successive regimes, from the General Ne Win era (1962-1988), through to SLORC (1990- 1997), SPDC (1997-2011) and even the notionally civilian government led by former president U Thein Sein (2011-2016).

AAPP research has found that some political prisoners have died in interrogation centers, prisons and labor camps due to severe torture and mistreatment, including insufficient food and water, and lack of health care. Moreover, some political prisoners were forced to work as porters in battle areas. In the worst cases, some political prisoners have disappeared altogether leaving no records behind.

Ex-PPs continue to suffer mentally and physically after they are released from prison. They have urgent needs in education, health care and livelihood. At the same time, their financial situation and their family’s education, health and social standing deteriorate as a result of imprisonment. With these consequences, former political prisoners and their families face difficulties with subsistence and significant barriers to reintegration. In many cases, this has led to family breakdown.

Today, Burma is governed by a democratically-elected government, voted for by the people for the people. Just days after assuming office, the government has revoked court cases and released political prisoners, activists, and students facing trial. However, not all political prisoners have been released nor charges dropped against those facing trial. Key ministries are still controlled by the military, who retain a constitutionally-mandated 25% seat share in parliament, and so the new government is operating within limited authority.

Burma must go through a transitional period, like so many others countries in the world. During this period, the government must take note of its bad image in the past, learn lessons from other countries in transition, and plan and implement an effective process to prevent massive abuses by state authorities and to guarantee non-repetition of human rights violations. This includes the documentation of human right violations, rehabilitation and reparation. These actions are crucial to the process of national reconciliation and building sustainable peace.

This report sheds light on the situation of political prisoners and what they have gone through. We strongly believe that this report supports an increased understanding of the situation of political prisoners, creating recognition, finding ways to redress physical and mental pain, implement rehabilitation and truth-seeking measures, planning procedures for transitional justice, and enforcing the mechanism of rule of law and judicial process.

Download Full Report by Assistant Association for Political Prisoners – Burma (AAPP-B) here.

Spring Revolution

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Human Rights Violations took place in States and Regions from Aug 22 to 31, 2024 Military Junta Troop launched airstrikes and dropped bombs in the Sagaing Region, Magway Region, Bago Region, Mandalay Region, Tanintharyi Region, and Shan State from August 22nd to 31st. Head of Prison which works under Military Junta, tortured and blackmailed the […]

Multimedia

What is the Truth (Cartoon Animation)May 31, 2024 - 4:58 pm
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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.

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