Human Rights Watch says Burmese security forces have committed killings, rape, and mass arrests against Rohingya Muslims in western Burma in the aftermath of deadly sectarian violence in June. The New York-based group said in a report Wednesday that Burmese forces failed to intervene as long simmering tensions between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims erupted into […]
Burmese Forces Targeting Muslims: Report
Posted August 1st, 2012 at 1:05 am (UTC-5)
Human Rights Watch says Burmese security forces have committed killings, rape, and mass arrests against Rohingya Muslims in western Burma in the aftermath of deadly sectarian violence in June. The New York-based group said in a report Wednesday that Burmese forces failed to intervene as long simmering tensions between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims erupted into […]
Buddhist Protesters Greet UN Rights Expert in Western Burma
Posted July 31st, 2012 at 12:10 pm (UTC-5)
A U.N. human rights expert has traveled to several Burmese towns in the country’s west where deadly riots erupted between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims last month. A local monk told VOA’s Burmese service that about 100 Buddhists staged a peaceful protest in the town of Maungdaw as Tomas Ojea Quintana visited Burma’s Rakhine state, near […]
Burma Rejects Criticism of Response to Buddhist-Muslim Riots
Posted July 30th, 2012 at 11:45 am (UTC-5)
Burmese officials have told a visiting U.N. human rights expert that security forces exercised “maximum restraint” in responding to deadly riots between Buddhists and Muslim Rohingyas in the country’s west last month. In a statement Monday, the Burmese foreign ministry said it “strongly rejects” accusations that authorities engaged in abuses and excessive force to end […]
Burma’s Suu Kyi Gives First Parliament Speech
Posted July 25th, 2012 at 4:25 am (UTC-5)
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has used her first speech in parliament to call for laws protecting the rights of the nation’s ethnic minorities. The Nobel Peace Prize winner spoke Wednesday, urging equal rights for all ethnic groups as part of Burma’s transition to democracy. Aung San Suu Kyi’s presence in parliament marks […]
Burma, Thailand Agree to Link Economic Zones
Posted July 23rd, 2012 at 5:55 am (UTC-5)
Burma and Thailand have signed a memorandum of understanding on the development of a special economic zone. Burmese President Thein Sein said Monday, on the second day of his visit to Bangkok, that the two countries have agreed to improve transportation routes between them. They plan to build a cross-border corridor linking Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard […]
Burma’s President Visits Thailand
Posted July 22nd, 2012 at 5:00 am (UTC-5)
Burma’s President Thein Sein arrived in Thailand Sunday for a three-day visit, after postponing the trip twice. The Burmese leader will meet with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday. The two are likely to discuss development and investment in Burma and the status of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Rohinghya refugees who fled ethnic […]
Burma’s President Visits Thailand
Posted July 21st, 2012 at 11:15 pm (UTC-5)
Burma’s President Thein Sein begins a three-day visit to Thailand Sunday, after postponing the trip twice. The Burmese leader will meet with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday. The two are likely to discuss investment in Burma and the status of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Rohinghya refugees who fled ethnic violence in Burma. […]
Rights Abuses Persist Against Burmese Muslims
Posted July 20th, 2012 at 6:50 am (UTC-5)
Activists and rights groups say violence continues against Burma’s ethnic Muslim minorities, six weeks after a state of emergency was declared in western Rakhine state. The government says at least 78 people have been killed in the region since late May, when longstanding tensions between the Buddhist Rakhines and Muslim Rohingyas erupted into communal violence. […]
Rights Abuses Persist Against Burmese Muslims: Report
Posted July 20th, 2012 at 3:35 am (UTC-5)
A leading rights groups says violence continues against Burma’s ethnic Muslim minorities, six weeks after a state of emergency was declared in western Rakhine state. Amnesty International says security forces and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists are still carrying out attacks – including rape, property destruction, and unlawful killings – against Rohingyas and other Muslims. The government […]
