New Conflicts in Mon Areas Signal Instability in 2010

February 5, 2010

Recently, after a conflict between the troops of the Burmese Army (BA) and a Mon splinter group in the southern part of Ye and Yebyu Townships, many newly displaced individuals have had to flee from their homes.  At the same time, the Mon villagers still in the region are restricted in their movements and blocked inside their homes. Read more

“We have to try”: Mounting pressure in election preparations and responses from the Mon State community

February 5, 2010

Introduction

Between December 2009 and early January 2010, South-East Command Major General That Naing Win issued a series of orders to local and regional Burmese government administrators in Mon State, mandating that their offices begin lobbying the residents of the areas under their administrative control for political support, in preparation for the 2010 election. These orders coincided with a rapid increase in human rights abuses targeting the citizens of Mon State.Adobe Acrobat PDF Download report as PDF [176 KB] Read more

TC No. 3 issues movement restrictions in NMSP territory

January 13, 2010

HURFOM, TPP: According to HURFOM’s field reporter, Tactical Command (TC) No. 3 Colonel Kyaw Min Htay has issued orders to the Light Infantry Battalions (LIB) still under his control, LIB Nos. 283 and 284, and to village headmen in the Tree Pagodas’ Pass area. The orders reportedly mandated that village headman begin enforcing movement restrictions in the regions of New Mon State Party (NMPS) territory controlled by the battalions. Read more

Election preparations round off a year of abuses against farmers in Mon territory

January 3, 2010

Introduction:

As preparations by the Burmese State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) for the elections slated for 2010 mount, an increasing amount of pressure will be placed on already burdened rural agricultural communities in Mudon, Thanbyuzayat, Ye and Kyaikmayaw Townships. As previously noted in HURFOM’s October and November election reports, these preparations have targeted rural communities with the intention of securing political dominance in advance of the government’s announcement of the 2010 electoral rules. In taking farmers and community members from their time sensitive-cultivation and harvests of rice crops that are critical for community survival and economy, these preparations have place an excessive burden on agricultural populations.Adobe Acrobat PDF Download report as PDF [ 328 KB] Read more

Burmese government pressure on communities for support in 2010 election

December 1, 2009

Introduction:

While the Burmese government, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), has yet to release the election rules for the coming 2010 election, the SPDC has been proactive in preparations to secure its grip on power within a newly formed civilian government.  The result has been a systematic effort by preexistent government controlled civilian groups and military forces, to create a climate untenable for the development of resistance or political thought separate from the SPDC party
line.Adobe Acrobat PDF Download report as PDF [ 144 KB] Read more

The 2008 Constitution and the 2010 Elections: Without Inclusiveness, Problems Will Remain Unresolved

December 1, 2009

The general population of Mon State and other parts of Burma think that the 2010 elections, and any new transformation of power that might result from them, will just be like ‘putting old wine into the new bottle’.  The “taste” will be the same, and their suffering of various political, economic, cultural, and human rights violations will be similar.   Read more

National Politics Party, NUP and USDA Start a Secret Campaign for 2010 Elections

October 29, 2009

Unsurprisingly, Burma’s 2010 elections will not be free and fair, even though the ruling military government has yet to announce any restrictive or biased election laws, elections processes, or political party formation laws.  The SPDC has already privileged the secret campaigns of certain military commanders, the National Politics Party (NPP), and other SPDC-supporting political groups like the National Unity Party (NUP), and the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA). Read more

Regime still fails to improve human rights before the 2010 election

February 24, 2009

Although the Burmese military regime is planning to register new political parties and hold elections in 2010, it has made no concrete progress or plan to improve the human rights in the country.

Just recently, the United Nations Human Rights Special Rapporteur visited Burma to learn about the human rights situation. After the visit, he announced that there has been no improvement. Arbitrary arrest, detention of political and social activities, forced labor and forced relocations in rural ethnic areas all still continue. Read more

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