Category: Burma

The Opium War | Documentary

Thousands of young people are dying from using drugs in Kachin State, Burma. When the government was not doing enough to crack down on the drug problem, civilians formed an anti-drugs organization called “Pat Jasan,” which means “stop and clean the drugs” in the local Kachin language, to eradicate drugs. A clash between “Pat Jasan”…


UN ‘Deeply Troubled’ by Burmese Military’s Decision to Execute Democracy Activists

The Burmese military said on Friday that it would proceed with the execution of two pro-democracy activists convicted of treason and terrorism, drawing outcry from human rights groups. Veteran democracy activist Kyaw Min Yu, as well as Phyo Zeyar Thaw, a former lawmaker from the National League for Democracy (NLD) party led by deposed Aung…


Accusations Fly After Burma Bombing Kills 1, Injures 9

BANGKOK—Burma(also known as Myanmar)’s military government and its opponents traded accusations over a bomb that exploded Tuesday in the middle of the country’s largest city, Yangon, killing one and wounding nine others. Photos and videos of Tuesday’s bombing that circulated on social media showing the bloodied victims sprawled on the sidewalk were a sharp reminder…


US Must Increase Engagement With Burma to Counter China

Commentary While the world rallies to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Beijing undermines U.S. economic sanctions by supporting the Burmese military junta. In February 2021, the Burmese military overthrew the democratically-elected government of the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by the Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. After more than five decades of war…


Burma’s Military Pardons 1,600 Prisoners for Buddhist New Year, But No Political Prisoners

The Burmese military junta released more than 1,600 prisoners on Sunday in an amnesty to “bring joy” to the country’s new year holiday, but political prisoners were not among those released, according to reports. Lieutenant General Aung Lin Dwe, a state secretary of the junta, said that a total of 1,619 prisoners, including 42 detained…


Burmese Military ‘Special Command’ Authorized Killing Civilians Using Snipers: Report

The Burmese military junta issued a “special command” authorizing the deployment of troops in civilian-populated cities, and the use of snipers to intimidate and kill civilians, according to a report released on March 24. The report, published by human rights group Fortify Rights and Yale Law School’s Schell Center, stated that senior general Min Aung…


Burmese Military Says US Rohingya Genocide Declaration ‘Politically Motivated’

Burma’s military junta said Tuesday that it “vehemently rejects” the United States’ declaration that the military committed genocide against the Rohingya minority, claiming that the declaration was “politically motivated.” The Ministry of Information said in a statement that the Min Aung Hlaing-led military harbored no genocidal intent to destroy any minority groups and denied that…


Burma’s Junta Committed Genocide Against Rohingya, US Declares

The United States has formally determined that the Burmese military committed genocide against the Rohingya in a “widespread and systematic” manner, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday. Blinken said in a speech at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum that “beyond the Holocaust, the United States has concluded that genocide was committed seven times.” “Today…


UN Calls for ‘Immediate Measures’ to Stop Burmese Army’s ‘Crimes Against Humanity’

The United Nations on Tuesday urged the international community to take “immediate measures” to stop the Burmese military junta’s systematic human rights violations, which it said amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The military junta has shown “a flagrant disregard for human life” by launching airstrikes on populated areas and deliberately targeting civilians,…


Burma Junta Strips Shadow Gov Members, Activists of Citizenship

The Burmese junta has revoked the citizenship of 11 opposition members and activists who have reportedly fled the country, the military regime’s Information Ministry said on Saturday. The citizenship termination targeted three Burmese activists and eight members of the National Unity Government (NUG), a parallel government formed in April last year by ousted lawmakers and…