Latest Reports
Burma Bulletin 2017-18
July 2018
A month-in-review of events in Burma. This month...
UN Human Rights chief slams "investigative whitewashing" as new four-person "sham" Commission of Enquiry established. Repression of freedom of the press continues as judge rules Reuters journalists to stand trial. Meanwhile, the NLD will contest all seats in the November by-elections; while tensions continue between ethnic armed organizations and the Tatmadaw despite the conclusion of the Panglong Peace Conference.
Download this month's bulletin to read more about July's political and economic developments in Burma.
June 2018
A month-in-review of events in Burma. This month...
Burma and the UN sign secretive repatriation deal, much to the concern of Rohingya groups, aid organizations and CSOs. Meanwhile, the ICC set 27 July deadline for Burma to respond to claims over jurisdiction over the deportation of Rohingya to Bangladesh, and Reuters journalists make claims of mistreatment in custody by police. Also, the third session of the Panglong Peace Conference set for 11 July.
Download this month's bulletin to read more about June's political and economic developments in Burma.
May 2018
A month-in-review of events in Burma. This month...
Calls for accountability over Arakan crimes intensify; the International Criminal Court take another step forward as Burma insists it will not accept referral; all while Amnesty International publish controversial report alleging ARSA Rohingya violations against Hindu civilians in Arakan State.
Download this month's bulletin to read more about May's democracy and human rights developments in Burma.
April 2018
A month-in-review of events in Burma. This month...
In the Reuters reporters case, there is a bombshell revelation as a prosecution witness confirms the arrest of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo was a 'set up'. While Burma finally allows outside officials to visit Arakan State as UNSC conduct tour of Bangladesh and Burma.
Download this month's bulletin to read more about April's democracy and human rights developments in Burma.
October 2017
A month-in-review of events in Burma. This month...
OHCHR report confirms that the Tatmadaw committed well organized, coordinated and systematic attacks against Rohingya. Refugee crisis worsen as tens of thousands flee to safety in Bangladesh.
Download this month's bulletin to read more about October's democracy and human rights developments in Burma.
September 2017
A month-in-review of events in Burma. This month...
Tatmadaw clearance operations in Arakan State force over 480,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh within five weeks. UN High Com. calls it a 'textbook example of ethnic cleansing.'
Download this month's bulletin to read more about September's democracy and human rights developments in Burma.
August 2017
A month-in-review of events in Burma. This month...
A deadly escalation of violence kills hundreds and displaces thousands from all communities in Arakan State.
Download this month's bulletin to read more about August's democracy and human rights developments in Burma.
July 2017
A month-in-review of events in Burma. This month...
UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee says Burmese authorities are "presiding over a worsening security and human rights situation" and urges the government to accept the findings of the UN Fact Finding Mission.
Download this month's bulletin to read more about July's democracy and human rights developments in Burma.
June 2017
A month-in-review of events in Burma. This month...
Tatmadaw detain three reporters under the Unlawful Associations Act for allegedly "having connections" with the TNLA.
Download this month's bulletin to read more about June's democracy and human rights developments in Burma.
May 2017
A month-in-review of events in Burma. This month...
Burma hold second round of the 21st Century Panglong Conference to secure peace; stakeholders agree on 37 out of 41 basic federal principles, however a deadlock emerges over 'non-secession' principle.
Download this month's bulletin to read more about May's democracy and human rights developments in Burma.
April 2017
A month-in-review of events in Burma. This month...
By-elections NLD win 50% of contested seats, opposition parties accuse Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD of violating regulations.
Download this month's bulletin to read more about April's democracy and human rights developments in Burma.
March 2017
A month-in-review of events in Burma. This month...
UN to send fact finding mission to Burma while Tatmadaw reject any international interference in Burma's "internal affairs".
Download this month's bulletin to read more about March's democracy and human rights developments in Burma.
February 2017
A month-in-review of events in Burma. This month...
OHCHR releases report on atrocities committed against Rohingya Muslims. Government promises to investigate OHCHR allegations through the military; 'investigation' concludes Burmese officials did not act unlawfully.
Download this month's bulletin to read more about February's democracy and human rights developments in Burma.
January 2017
A month-in-review of events in Burma. This month...
Muslim human rights defender and NLD legal advisor Ko Ni is assassinated. While a video documenting Tatmadaw abuses against Rohingya Muslims surfaces online and goes viral, prompting a government investigation.
Download this month's bulletin to read more about January's democracy and human rights developments in Burma.
Fact sheet: Ongoing attacks against civilians and a faltering peace process
18 October 2018
ALTSEAN-Burma has collaborated with the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Progressive Voice on a fact sheet shedding light on the major obstacles impeding the Burmese peace process. The military continue to sabotage peace talks through acts of violence and rights abuses against ethnic minority groups, whilst also evading accountability for their crimes. Until these issues are addressed, genuine peace and reconciliation will not be realized in Burma.
Download the full briefer to learn more about Burma's faltering peace process.
Fact sheet: Burma/Myanmar's ongoing refusal to pursue accountability: Time for an ICC referral
18 October 2018
ALTSEAN-Burma has collaborated with the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Progressive Voice on a fact sheet calling for Burma to be immediately referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to halt ongoing human rights violations in the country. Burmese authorities have consistently shown they are unable or unwilling to pursue accountability and bring military officials to justice for their crimes, therefore it's time the international community intervened.
Download the full briefer to learn more about the compelling and mounting reasons in favor of an ICC referral.
Fact Sheet: Dodging accountability and whitewashing crimes
23 August 2018
"I assure you there will be no blaming of anybody, no finger-pointing..." said Rosario Manalo, head of Burma's latest Commission of Enquiry (CoE) into human rights violations in Arakan State, this week. Manalo's words confirmed what most observers already suspected: The CoE is the latest in a long tradition of Burmese Sham internal investigations. This latest development underlines the urgent need to collect, preserve, and analyze evidence of serious international crimes, and identify perpetrators for future criminal prosecutions in accordance with international law.
Download the fact sheet to get the full story.
Fact Sheet: Two Aspects of the Rakhine Crisis
13 July 2018
What impact has the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) had in worn torn Rakhine State? And why has the military budget increased astronomically under the civilian government of the National League for Democracy?
Download this one page fact sheet to learn more.
Fact Sheet: ASEAN's Failings in Business and Human Rights
04 June 2018
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) significantly lags behind its African and American regional counterparts in the realm of stakeholder engagement and access to justice, thereby undermining the region's capacity to mitigate and remedy human rights impacts as a result of business activities.
Download the PDF to read ALTSEAN's in depth comparative study.
Shadow NBA on Business and Human Rights in Burma
08 December 2017
A joint report from the International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (ICAR) and ALTSEAN-Burma, providing among the most comprehensive studies ever taken into the relationship between business and human rights in Burma/Myanmar.
Download the full report below.
Briefer: 'Textbook Ethnic Cleansing'-
Arakan Crisis
12 October 2017
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein calls the actions of the Burmese military in Arakan State a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing". Found out the full story in ALTSEAN's comprehensive account of the key stories to emerge from the ongoing Arakan Crisis.
Download the full report below.
Fact Sheet: Flawed Domestic Investigations Necessitate UN Commission of Inquiry on Serious Crimes
07 March 2017
Since 2012, the governments led by former general President Thein Sein and President Htin Kyaw have mandated four major official invesitagations into the situation in Arakan State. Three additional teams have been tasked to investigate the violence that erupted in Maungdaw since October 2016. All initiatives have contradicted international human rights standards and have been flawed in terms of mandate, composition, process and outcomes.
Download the PDF to read the full report.
Briefer: Action Needed to Halt Ongoing Military Rampage
11 April 2017
Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing declared the military's firm commitment to "the stability, unity and development of the country and monitoring to ensure that (the country) can walk firmly on the multi-party democracy path chosen by the people." Despite such declarations, the Tatmadaw's behaviour has consistently undermined the peace process, rule of law and human rights.
Download the full report below.
Burma/Myanmar Post-Election Outlook: Trials For Triumph
13 November 2015
Results announced on 14 November confirmed the overwhelming victory of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in the 8 November elections, which decided 75% of seats in Burma's National and Regional Parliaments. While the military will retain its allotted 25% of parliamentary seats, the NLD now holds an overall majority in the National Parliament, giving it the power to form Burma's next government and select a president.
Download the full report below.
Burma/Myanmar Election Day: Free-Est & Fairest Is Not Free & Fair
09 November 2015
On 8 November, Burma held what has been called its 'freest and fairest' election in 25 years. An 80% turnout rate was reported for the 335 million Burmese eligible to vote in the election, which saw the first participation of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) in a general election since the 1990 elections.
Download the full report below.
Land Confiscation and Human Rights Abuses in Burma since 2011: Uprooting Reforms
06 November 2015
Land confiscation in Burma causes forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, sending many into severe poverty. Here we provide a nationwide outlook on this destructive and rampant practice.
Download the PDF below to read the learn more.