Resources

New Constitution Needed for Genuine Transition to Democracy

February 21, 2019 • Author: Progressive Voice

“The current constitution is not democratic, and Myanmar cannot be considered a democracy without it being amended.”The UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar Two years since the assassination of U Ko Ni, the National League for Democracy’s (NLD... Read more ►

Ethnic Struggles Face Harsh Reality on Union Day

February 13, 2019 • Author: Progressive Voice

Over seventy years later, it is time for the the current NLD Government, under the leadership of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, to reflect on what they are doing differently to the decades of military dictatorship… As another Union Day passes in Myanmar[1], ethnic people in all... Read more ►

Constitution Change Essential for a Federal Democratic Myanmar

February 6, 2019 • Author: Progressive Voice

It is not just the military’s control over government that is problematic. The deeply centralized structure of governance and policies of Burmanization have perpetuated the lack of equal rights for ethnic nationalities, an issue that has been at the core of Myanmar’s civ... Read more ►

Protection, Justice and Accountability Needed for Return of Rohingya Refugees

January 31, 2019 • Author: Progressive Voice

As the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities continue to face threats and persecution, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar[1], Ms. Yanghee Lee, called for the Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar military, Min Aung Hlaing, to be prosecuted for genocid... Read more ►

`Does China Give A Dam?’

January 25, 2019 • Author: Progressive Voice

With China’s multi-billion dollar “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) at stake, China’s aggressive pursuit of the resumption of Myitsone dam and its attempts to secure its border areas is further negatively impacting ethnic communities in Myanmar[1], particularly those ... Read more ►

Another Year, Another Crisis in Rakhine

January 18, 2019 • Author: Progressive Voice

Rakhine State has lurched into another crisis over the last few weeks, as attacks by the Arakan Army (AA) on border guard police posts, reveal the deep, structural problems and resentment that many ethnic Rakhine people have towards the Bamar-centric statebuilding project of... Read more ►

Myanmar’s Latest Whitewash

December 18, 2018 • Author: Progressive Voice

The latest Myanmar[1] government-led Independent Commission of Enquiry (CoE) to finally find out the ‘truth’ behind what happened in Rakhine State in 2017, after having spoken with the military, is now giving victims a few weeks to submit evidence of abuse by the end of ... Read more ►

‘One Prisoner of Conscience is One Too Many’

December 13, 2018 • Author: Progressive Voice

In an appalling verdict on Friday, three Kachin human rights defenders – Lum Zawng, Nang Pu and Zau Jat – were sentenced to six months in prison and given a 500,000 Kyat fine each (approximately $320 USD) for publicly calling for the protection of civilians in co... Read more ►

No Safety, No Return – Involuntary and Non-Consultative Closure of IDP Camps a Violation of the Principles of International Law

December 6, 2018 • Author: Progressive Voice

In June 2018 when the Myanmar[1] government announced its decision to close down the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Karen, Kachin, Shan and Rakhine States, over 100 CSOs expressed grave concerns regarding the government’s strategy, calling the move premature a... Read more ►

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women a Day of Shame for Myanmar

November 28, 2018 • Author: Progressive Voice

On 25 November, the world marked International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. In Myanmar[1], however, violence against women perpetrated by state actors, especially in ethnic and religious minority communities, is systemic, as documented by ethnic women�... Read more ►

Root Causes of Displacement Must Be Addressed

November 23, 2018 • Author: Progressive Voice

What links the situation for Rohingya refugees who are living in Bangladesh and the IDPs and refugees living in southeastern Myanmar and the camps in Thailand is that the root causes of their displacement remain unaddressed. The ultimately postponed plan for over 2,000 Rohin... Read more ►

Apartheid Awaits for Rohingya

November 14, 2018 • Author: Progressive Voice

Despite the horrific violence, institutionalized discrimination, and curtailment of many basic human rights, the repatriation of Rohingya to Rakhine State is due to start this week, as decreed by the Joint Working Group that consists of officials from the Governments of Ban... Read more ►

Progressive Voice - Blog Posts (132 found)