Myanmar Villagers Shun Blackened Water Despite Official Assurances It’s Safe
Villagers in parts of eastern Myanmar’s Kayin state are afraid to drink water from local creeks and ponds, despite official assurances that the black-colored water has no connection to a nearby military-owned coal-powered cement plant, officials and re…
Myanmar Migrant Worker Says His Seafood Market Boss Started Chain of COVID-19 Infections
A Myanmar migrant worker in Thailand who became infected with the coronavirus said Wednesday that he contracted the illness from his Thai employer in a huge seafood market compound in coastal Samut Sakhon province near the capital Bangkok.On Monday, Th…
Europe Targets Human Rights Abusers With ‘Magnitsky’ Laws
LONDON – Human rights abusers will face asset freezes and travel bans under new legislation adopted by the European Union. The so-called Magnitsky laws, officially titled the EU Human Rights Global Sanctions Regime, would target those accused of crimes including genocide, torture, assassination and arbitrary detentions. The European Union officially adopts the legislation on December […]
Two Myanmar Students Sentenced to Year in Prison For Rakhine War Protest
A court in Myanmar sentenced two anti-war student protesters to a year in jail on Wednesday, hurrying them from the courtroom before family members could see them or hear the court’s verdict, sources said on Thursday.Kyaw Ye Thu, president of the Stude…
Disinformation on Social Media Is Threat to Democracy, Rappler CEO Says
WASHINGTON – Maria Ressa says what she’s living through is Kafkaesque. The crusading Filipina journalist received a John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award on Wednesday from the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the latest international recognition of…
Myanmar Military Chief Urges Troops to Vote in Support of Three ‘National Causes’
Myanmar’s armed forces and their families can “cast their votes freely” in national elections this weekend, but should back candidates that support the military’s “Three Main National Causes,” the country’s powerful defense chief said Thursday as conce…
Myanmar Election Stunt Seen as Fugitive Ultranationalist Monk Turns Himself In
Fugitive ultranationalist Buddhist monk Wirathu, wanted on sedition charges following speeches he made attacking and insulting Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her civilian-led government last year, surrendered to police on Monday after eluding arre…
TNP Won’t Join Coalition Opposed to Election Cancellation in Mong Kung Township
“When our party tries to campaign in villages, residents are threatened,” Mai Nom Han, TNP chair for Mong Kung Township, told SHAN. “We didn’t sign the deal because there was no security for us during the election campaign. And it’s not fair.” Restorat…
Burma Army Accuses RCSS/SSA of Detaining Military Officers
Tatmadaw leaders said the ethnic armed organization (EAO), which it is fighting with in Kyaukme Township, detained the officers on October 6 and released them on October 22.RCSS/SSA spokesperson Lt-Col Oum Khur told SHAN he had heard nothing about it. …