Burma (Myanmar)
Active Cases
The restrictions imposed by the governing authoritarian military regime, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), make human rights related activities almost impossible within Burma. Freedom of assembly, association and expression are drastically limited. Pro-democracy activists advocating civil and political rights, defenders criticising government action (including denouncing forced labour and land confiscation by local authorities) and those who defend the rights of political prisoners or ethnic minorities are targeted.
Despite the severe SPDC regime, the UN reports that small groups active in the defence of human rights continue to function. The UN special rapporteur on human rights in Burma, who has not been permitted to visit the country since November 2003, has, however, referred to “the criminalization of the exercise of fundamental freedoms” by human rights defenders. Vaguely worded and broadly interpreted state security offences carry harsh penalties and are used against defenders who speak out against the actions of the authorities. Freedom of association is practically non-existent in a human rights context, the SPDC reportedly having prohibited both international and national human rights NGOs from operating in the country. As to freedom of assembly, meetings of more than 5 people are prohibited by law. Freedom of expression in all media is extremely limited. The print and broadcast media are tightly controlled, while restrictions on and surveillance of internet use and content are severe. Individuals have been arrested for distributing the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and for reporting cases of forced labour to the International Labour Organisation. Defenders have allegedly been subjected to harassment, assault, arbitrary arrest, incommunicado detention, long-term detention without trial, detention and conviction without access to legal counsel, solitary confinement for protracted periods, ill-treatment and torture while in custody including denial of medical treatment, and long-term house arrest. Defenders’ families are also targeted. Many defenders have been forced into exile.