Myanmar: Charging of Reuters journalists a black day for press freedom

Responding to today’s decision by a Yangon court to formally charge Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, with breaching the country’s Official Secrets Act, Tirana Hassan, Amnesty International’s Director of Crisis Response, said: “This is a black day for press freedom in Myanmar. The court’s decision to proceed with this farcical, politically motivated …

Myanmar: Military top brass must face justice for crimes against humanity targeting Rohingya

Report names 13 officials with a key role in murder, rape and deportation of Rohingya. Myanmar’s security forces committed nine distinct types of crimes against humanity; responsibility goes to the top of the chain of command. Calls for accountability, including a UN Security Council referral to the ICC. Amnesty International has gathered extensive, credible evidence …

Japan: Investigate brewer Kirin over payment to Myanmar military amid ethnic cleansing of Rohingya

Japanese beer company admitted its subsidiary made three donations during recent violence in Rakhine State Head of military filmed receiving donation which he said was for security forces Kirin admits it does not know how its donations were used Japanese authorities must urgently launch an investigation into payments that a subsidiary of the multinational brewing …

Myanmar: New evidence reveals Rohingya armed group massacred scores in Rakhine State

New evidence gathered inside Rakhine State points to gruesome massacre of Hindus Men, women and children rounded up and killed, execution-style Access for UN, independent investigators urgently needed A Rohingya armed group brandishing guns and swords is responsible for at least one, and potentially a second, massacre of up to 99 Hindu women, men, and …

Australia-ASEAN Summit: Leaders must take a stand against ethnic cleansing of Rohingya

Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia must take a strong stand against ongoing crimes against humanity targeting Rohingya in Myanmar as they meet this weekend, Amnesty International said. Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s State Counsellor and de facto political leader, is expected to attend the first ever ASEAN-Australia Summit, taking …

Myanmar/Australia: Forced starvation of Rohingya highlights danger of premature returns

Amnesty International Australia was appalled to see the timid ‘diplospeak’ as laid bare in the FOI documents obtained by Guardian Australia. This confirms that not only is Australia intent on continuing its ties with the Myanmar military, but it is employing a sickening softly softly approach despite the horror being inflicted on the Rohingya people. …

Myanmar: Fresh evidence of ongoing ethnic cleansing as military starves, abducts and robs Rohingya

“An arms embargo and targeted sanctions are urgently needed to send a message that these violations will not be tolerated. There is also an urgent need for unfettered and sustained humanitarian access throughout northern Rakhine State.” – Matthew Wells, Senior Crisis Advisor at Amnesty International The Myanmar security forces’ devastating campaign against the Rohingya population …

Arms sales expansion plan exposes Australia to profiting from human rights abuses

Responding to reports that the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said that he wants Australia to become one of the world’s top 10 arms exporters to target markets including the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific region, Amnesty International Australia’s Crisis Campaigns Coordinator Diana Sayed said: “When the Government talks about expanding arms exports to the …

Bangladesh/Myanmar: Postponing returns arrangement provides temporary relief for Rohingya refugees

The government of Bangladesh’s announcement that it is to postpone the return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar is a welcome relief for hundreds of thousands currently living in Bangladesh, Amnesty International said today. Implementing a returns arrangement – finalised last week – in its current form would put the safety and rights of more than …

Bangladesh: Returning Rohingya to Myanmar illegal and premature

Responding to an announcement by the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry that it will aim to repatriate all Rohingya refugees within two years, James Gomez, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said: “With memories of rape, killing and torture still fresh in the minds of Rohingya refugees, plans for their return to Myanmar …