The Stateless Rohingya Blog

By MIZZIMA NEWS The U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma on Monday welcomed the amnesty and release a significant number of prisoners of conscience. U.N. special envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana reads a press statement while on a visit to Burma. Photo: Mizzima “I welcome the release of…individuals who have been imprisoned for exercising their fundamental human rights or whose fair trial or due process rights have been denied,” said Tomas Ojea Quintana. While the exact number of prisoners released has yet to be determined, he said among those freed were individuals he had visited in jail. “In this critical period for Myanmar, and in the lead-up to the by-elections in April, it is fundamental that all citizens, including those just released from prison, are allowed to play an active and constructive role in political and public life.” “Based on lessons learnt from past elections, I call on the government to ensure respect for the rights to political participation a

BROUK Welcomes Rohingya MP Kyaw Min and other High Profile Political Prisoners Release Today, BROUK welcomed the release of high profile political prisoners, including Rohingya MP U Kyaw Min, and member of the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament (CRPP) and family members, Shan ethnic leader U Khun Htun Oo and members of the 88 Generation Students and journalists from the Democratic Voice of Burma. The release of high profile politicians and activists is great news for their families and friends.

By    MIZZIMA NEWS People in two townships in Arakan State are protesting, calling for the Burmese government to supply more gas to the region as a fuel to provide more electricity to the state which lacks sufficient electrical power. Activists delivered an open letter to the Arakan state minister on Monday with the demand, said a statement by the Shwe Gas Movement, a local activist group. Last week, the Minister of Energy claimed it would make an agreement with firms to supply the gas for the region, but local activist are skeptical because of unfulfilled promises and the destructive impact the gas pipeline project has already had on local communities.

By MIZZIMA NEWS More than 150 child soldier and child labour cases have been documented in Yephyu Township, Taninthayi Region, in southern Burma, according to the Human Rights Foundation of Monland.