Introduction

The annual report of Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma) documented the human rights situation in Burma from December 2011-January 2013.  The report provides information on human rights violations (HRVs) over this period and highlights pressing issues and trends taking place in Burma.  The annual report covers human rights violations in 16 categories over all 14 states.

The year 2012 has seen rapid changes in Burma that have led to dramatically increased standing in the international community.  Both U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and President Obama made unprecedented trips to the previously shunned state.

ND-Burma Periodic Report underlines human rights abuses in Burma, with focus on land confiscation

Media Advisory: ND-Burma Periodic Report underlines human rights abuses in Burma, with focus on land confiscation. The Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma) has released a periodic report documenting the human rights situation in Burma during the period of April 2012– September 2012. The report documents 114 cases of human rights violations (HRVs) committed by the government and its supporters in the 14 states and regions throughout Burma.

ND-Burma documented 27 cases of forced labour, 26 cases of land confiscation and 21 cases of torture. The violations were committed as direct result of on-going armed conflict, and the marriage of military and industry.

According to the report, “The confiscation and destruction of property that ND-Burma has reported through the efforts of field workers has been reflected by the growing number of reports in recent news out of Burma. The weakness of the 2012 Farmland Law has allowed the government and closely linked businesses to continue to commit these HRVs unabated.”

The report goes on to note, “As ND-Burma has documented in case studies, for every report of land being confiscated or property destroyed, there are families and entire villages of people across Burma being stripped of their livelihoods.

It should be noted that the report does not serve as a representative sampling of all HRVs that take place in Burma. Because of security concerns, human rights monitoring cannot take place openly.

The full report can be viewed at: www.nd-burma.org

For further information,

Name: Nai Aue Mon

Mobile: (+66) 861-679-741

Name: Lway Poe Pheing

Mobile: (+66) 856-056-041

In February 2010, Burma Issues conducted a field trip inside Karen State to raise internally displaced persons' (IDPs) awareness of the upcoming elections. While they were watching a video, the township where the IDPs were staying was attacked by the Burmese Military's Army. They had to flee into the jungle and our cameraman decided to follow.

He became particularly interested in one family-a grand grandmother, 2 parents, and 4 young children-who have ensured permanent displacement for 3 generations. For 4 months he became deeply involved with them and managed to film an intimate portrait of their daily struggles. He had returned after a period of time to assess if their lives had improved. But they hadn't.

As the family had to leave all of their possessions behind, their life is now a cyclical nightmare. Every time they manage to build a hut for shelter, or manage to plant a basic crop, they have to flee from violence. Soldiers and landmines ensure that returning is out of the question, which raises obvious questions about whether it is a safe time to consider the repatriation of Burmese refugees from Thailand. Regardless of the risks however, the family manage to keep on building new shelters but never manage to make a home.

Although shot in eastern Burma, this video highlights the plight of the countless millions of IDPs across the country who have to contend with extreme violence, food shortages and a lack of access to health care and education.

"Burma Issues a non-profit organization committed to building a grassroots movement based on village wisdom, culture and needs. Burma Issues focuses on long-term grassroots education and community organizing, rather than on solving immediate problems."