Highlights: Developments
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Remaking Rakhine State
REMAKING RAKHINE STATE Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 7 million people who campaign for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all. Our vision is for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. We are independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion and are funded mainly by our membership and public donations. © Amnesty International 2017 Except where otherwise noted, content in this document is licensed under a Creative Commons Cover photo: Aerial photograph showing the clearance of a burnt village in northern Rakhine State (attribution, non-commercial, no derivatives, international 4.0) licence. © Private https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode For more information please visit the permissions page on our website: www.amnesty.org Where material is attributed to a copyright owner other than Amnesty International this material is not subject to the Creative Commons licence. First published in 2017 by Amnesty International Ltd Peter Benenson House, 1 Easton Street London WC1X 0DW, UK Index: ASA 16/8018/2018 Original language: English amnesty.org INTRODUCTION Six months after the start of a brutal military campaign which forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya women, men and children from their homes and left hundreds of Rohingya villages burned the ground, Myanmar’s authorities are remaking northern Rakhine State in their absence.1 Since October 2017, but in particular since the start of 2018, Myanmar’s authorities have embarked on a major operation to clear burned villages and to build new homes, security force bases and infrastructure in the region. -
Of the Rome Statute
ICC-01/19-7 04-07-2019 1/146 RH PT Cour Penale (/\Tl\) _ni _t_e__r an _t_oi _n_a_l_e �i��------------------ ----- International �� �d? Crimi nal Court Original: English No.: ICC-01/19 Date: 4 July 2019 PRE-TRIAL CHAMBER III Before: Judge Olga Herrera Carbuccia, Presiding Judge Judge Robert Fremr Judge Geoffrey Henderson SITUATION IN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH / REPUBLIC OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR PUBLIC With Confidential EX PARTE Annexes 1, 5, 7 and 8, and Public Annexes 2, 3, 4, 6, 9 and 10 Request for authorisation of an investigation pursuant to article 15 Source: Office of the Prosecutor ICC-01/19-7 04-07-2019 2/146 RH PT Document to be notified in accordance with regulation 31 of the Regulations of the Court to: The Office of the Prosecutor Counsel for the Defence Ms Fatou Bensouda Mr James Stewart Legal Representatives of the Victims Legal Representatives of the Applicants Unrepresented Victims Unrepresented Applicants (Participation/Reparation) The Office of Public Counsel for The Office of Public Counsel for the Victims Defence States’ Representatives Amicus Curiae REGISTRY Registrar Counsel Support Section Mr Peter Lewis Victims and Witnesses Unit Detention Section Victims Participation and Reparations Other Section Mr Philipp Ambach No. ICC-01/19 2/146 4 July 2019 ICC-01/19-7 04-07-2019 3/146 RH PT CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 5 II. LEVEL OF CONFIDENTIALITY AND REQUESTED PROCEDURE .................... 8 III. PROCEDURAL -
Battle Against the Bug Asia’S Ght to Contain Covid-19
Malaysia’s political turmoil Rohingyas’ grim future Parasite’s Oscar win MCI(P) 087/05/2019 Best New Print Product and Best News Brand in Asia-Pacic, International News Media Association (INMA) Global Media Awards 2019 Battle against the bug Asia’s ght to contain Covid-19 Countries race against time to contain the spread of coronavirus infections as fears mount of further escalation, with no sign of a vaccine or cure yet WE BRING YOU SINGAPORE AND THE WORLD UP TO DATE IN THE KNOW News | Live blog | Mobile pushes Web specials | Newsletters | Microsites WhatsApp | SMS Special Features IN THE LOOP ON THE WATCH Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Videos | FB live | Live streams To subscribe to the free newsletters, go to str.sg/newsletters All newsletters connect you to stories on our straitstimes.com website. Data Digest Bats: furry friends or calamitous carriers? SUPPOSEDLY ORIGINATING IN THE HUANAN WHOLESALE On Jan 23, a team led by coronavirus specialist Shi Zheng-Li at Seafood Market in Wuhan, the deadly Covid-19 outbreak has the Wuhan Institute of Virology, reported on life science archive opened a pandora’s box around the trade of illegal wildlife and bioRxiv that the Covid-19 sequence was 96.2 per cent similar to the sale of exotic animals. a bat virus and had 79.5 per cent similarity to the coronavirus Live wolf pups, civets, hedgehogs, salamanders and crocodiles that caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars). were among many listed on an inventory at one of the market’s Further findings in the Chinese Medical Journal also discovered shops, said The Guardian newspaper. -
DASHED HOPES the Criminalization of Peaceful Expression in Myanmar WATCH
HUMAN RIGHTS DASHED HOPES The Criminalization of Peaceful Expression in Myanmar WATCH Dashed Hopes The Criminalization of Peaceful Expression in Myanmar Copyright © 2019 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 978-1-6231-36970 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide. We scrupulously investigate abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to respect rights and secure justice. Human Rights Watch is an independent, international organization that works as part of a vibrant movement to uphold human dignity and advance the cause of human rights for all. Human Rights Watch is an international organization with staff in more than 40 countries, and offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Goma, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Nairobi, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Tunis, Washington DC, and Zurich. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.hrw.org FEBRUARY 2019 ISBN: 978-1-6231-36970 Dashed Hopes The Criminalization of Peaceful Expression in Myanmar Summary ........................................................................................................................... 1 Methodology ...................................................................................................................... 5 I. Background ..................................................................................................................... 6 II. Section 66(d) -
UNOSAT Analysis of Destruction and Other Developments in Rakhine State, Myanmar
UNOSAT analysis of destruction and other developments in Rakhine State, Myanmar 7 September 2018 [Geneva, Switzerland] Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 2 Data and Methods ................................................................................................................................... 2 Satellite Images and Processing .......................................................................................................... 2 Satellite Image Analysis ....................................................................................................................... 3 Fire Detection Data ............................................................................................................................. 5 Fire Detection Data Analysis ............................................................................................................... 6 Settlement Locations ........................................................................................................................... 6 Estimation of the destroyed structures .............................................................................................. 6 Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 Destruction Visible in Satellite Imagery ............................................................................................. -
Erga Omnes Partes Before the International Court of Justice: from Standing to Judgment on the Merits
ERGA OMNES PARTES BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE: FROM STANDING TO JUDGMENT ON THE MERITS Nawi Ukabiala, Duncan Pickard & Alyssa Yamamoto* I. STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS ..... ...........................................................................................................236 II. LEGAL STANDARDS ON THE MERITS ................................................238 III. MARSHALLING EVIDENCE ................................................................241 A. Documentary Evidence.................................................................243 B. Third-Party Reporting..................................................................244 1. UN Fact-Finding ......................................................................244 2. NGO Fact-Finding ...................................................................246 C. Witness Evidence ..........................................................................246 D. Proceedings of Other Adjudicatory Bodies..................................248 E. Judicial Intervention.....................................................................249 IV. CONCLUSION .....................................................................................250 In its landmark order on provisional measures in Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar) (The Gambia v. Myanmar), the International Court of Justice (ICJ, or the Court) held that The Gambia had prima facie standing before the Court -
Burma's Political Prisoners and U.S. Policy
Burma’s Political Prisoners and U.S. Policy Michael F. Martin Specialist in Asian Affairs Updated May 17, 2019 Congressional Research Service 7-.... www.crs.gov R44804 Burma’s Political Prisoners and U.S. Policy Summary Despite a campaign pledge that they “would not arrest anyone as political prisoners,” Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD) have failed to fulfil this promise since they took control of Burma’s Union Parliament and the government’s executive branch in April 2016. While presidential pardons have been granted for some political prisoners, people continue to be arrested, detained, tried, and imprisoned for alleged violations of Burmese laws. According to the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (Burma), or AAPP(B), a Thailand-based, nonprofit human rights organization formed in 2000 by former Burmese political prisoners, there were 331 political prisoners in Burma as of the end of April 2019. During its three years in power, the NLD government has provided pardons for Burma’s political prisoners on six occasions. Soon after assuming office in April 2016, former President Htin Kyaw and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi took steps to secure the release of nearly 235 political prisoners. On May 23, 2017, former President Htin Kyaw granted pardons to 259 prisoners, including 89 political prisoners. On April 17, 2018, current President Win Myint pardoned 8,541 prisoners, including 36 political prisoners. In April and May 2019, he pardoned more than 23,000 prisoners, of which the AAPP(B) considered 20 as political prisoners. Aung San Suu Kyi and her government, as well as the Burmese military, however, also have demonstrated a willingness to use Burma’s laws to suppress the opinions of its political opponents and restrict press freedoms. -
Report of Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar
A/HRC/39/64 Advance Edited Version Distr.: General 12 September 2018 Original: English Human Rights Council Thirty-ninth session 10–28 September 2018 Agenda item 4 Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention Report of the independent international fact-finding mission on Myanmar* Summary The Human Rights Council established the independent international fact-finding mission on Myanmar in its resolution 34/22. In accordance with its mandate, the mission focused on the situation in Kachin, Rakhine and Shan States since 2011. It also examined the infringement of fundamental freedoms, including the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and peaceful association, and the question of hate speech. The mission established consistent patterns of serious human rights violations and abuses in Kachin, Rakhine and Shan States, in addition to serious violations of international humanitarian law. These are principally committed by the Myanmar security forces, particularly the military. Their operations are based on policies, tactics and conduct that consistently fail to respect international law, including by deliberately targeting civilians. Many violations amount to the gravest crimes under international law. In the light of the pervasive culture of impunity at the domestic level, the mission finds that the impetus for accountability must come from the international community. It makes concrete recommendations to that end, including that named senior generals of the Myanmar military should be investigated and prosecuted in an international criminal tribunal for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. * The present report was submitted after the deadline in order to reflect the most recent developments. A/HRC/39/64 Contents Page I. -
Northern Rakhine State – Damage Assessment Map and Sample Satellite Imagery
UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar established by HRC resolution 34/22 Northern Rakhine State – damage assessment map and sample satellite imagery 1. The map shows areas with visible destruction, through burning, of houses, other structures and vegetation in the three northern Townships (Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung) of Rakhine State. The map was developed through the analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery collected on multiple dates between 25 August 2017 and 18 March 2018. Destruction is represented by coloured dots, with colours corresponding to the date range when visible destruction was detected. Due to cloud cover and satellite overpass range, damage is detected within a date range. The date range refers to damage detection, as opposed to when it actually occurred. 2. Two satellite images from Thit Tone Nar Gwa Son village tract, northern Maungdaw Township. Image 1, taken on 25 May 2017, shows intact houses and other village structures and farmland. Image 2, taken on 13 February 2018, shows burned Rohingya houses and other structures, terrain clearance and new construction. Information published by the Myanmar Government’s Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development in Rakhine, dated 6 December 2017, lists the names of four ethnic Mro villages where 86 houses will be built “near Thittonena Gwa Sone village”, in “Thittonena Gwa Sone” village tract. See: http://rakhine.unionenterprise.org/latest-news-en/235-nearly-800-houses-under-construction-for- displaced-villagers-in-maungtaw 3. Two satellite images from Myin Hlut village tract, southern Maungdaw Township. Image 3, taken on 9 January 2018, shows burned Rohingya houses, other village structures and vegetation (within the red lines), and also remaining intact houses, structures and vegetation (outside of the red lines). -
U.S. Restrictions on Relations with Burma
U.S. Restrictions on Relations with Burma Updated March 18, 2020 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R44570 U.S. Restrictions on Relations with Burma Summary Major changes in Burma’s political situation since 2016 have raised questions among some Members of Congress concerning the appropriateness of U.S. policy toward Burma (Myanmar) in general, and the current restrictions on relations with Burma in particular. During the time Burma was under military rule (1962–2011), restrictions were placed on bilateral relations in an attempt to encourage the Burmese military, or Tatmadaw, to permit the restoration of democracy. In November 2015, Burma held nationwide parliamentary elections from which Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) emerged as the party with an absolute majority in both chambers of Burma’s parliament. The new government subsequently appointed Aung San Suu Kyi to the newly created position of State Counselor, as well as Foreign Minister. While the NLD controls the parliament and the executive branch, the Tatmadaw continues to exercise significant power under provisions of Burma’s 2008 constitution, impeding potential progress towards the re-establishment of a democratically-elected civilian government in Burma. On October 7, 2016, after consultation with Aung San Suu Kyi, former President Obama revoked several executive orders pertaining to sanctions on Burma, and waived restrictions required by Section 5(b) of the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-286), removing most of the economic restrictions on relations with Burma. On December 2, 2016, he issued Presidential Determination 2017-04, ending some restrictions on U.S. -
Urgent Action
FU UA: 4/18 Index: ASA 16/9036/2018 Myanmar Date: 6 September 2018 URGENT ACTION TWO REUTERS JOURNALISTS SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS IN JAIL Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were sentenced to seven years in jail on 3 September 2018 after being found guilty of breaching Myanmar’s Official Secrets Act. The politically- motivated verdict is in connection with their peaceful journalistic activities in Rakhine State. Both men are prisoners of conscience and must be immediately and unconditionally released. On 3 September 2018, after a postponement of the verdict from 27 August, a judge at the Northern District court in Yangon found Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, two Reuters journalists, guilty of breaching Section 3(1)(c) of Myanmar’s 1923 Official Secrets Act. The two journalists, who have been detained for almost nine months, were each sentenced to seven years in prison. The period they were detained accounts as part of their sentence. The lawyers of the two journalists are reportedly preparing to appeal the decision. On 12 December 2017, the two journalists were arrested shortly after being handed official documents by police officers who had invited them to dinner in northern Yangon, Myanmar’s main city, and whom they had never met before. At the time, the two journalists had been investigating a brutal military crackdown in northern Rakhine State against the Rohingya ethnic minority which forced more than 700,000 people to flee to Bangladesh. The pair were held incommunicado for two weeks, without access to lawyers or family members. In April, a police officer acting as a witness for the prosecution told the court that he and his colleagues had been ordered by a superior officer to “trap” the journalists, however the judge refused to dismiss the case. -
MYANMAR: IDP Sites in Rakhine State (April 2015) Kanpetlet
MYANMAR: IDP Sites in Rakhine State (April 2015) Kanpetlet Mu Hti Pa Da Kar Ywar Thit Sar KaingKyaw U Let Hpweit Kya Tin May Done Ku Lar Kyauk Twe ChaungKyaung Taung Kyun Taung Wet Kyein CHINA Thea Chaung Hpar Ri Min Gyi (Ku Lar) Kyauk See Thea Chaung Maw La Bi Min Gyi (Tu Lar Tu Li) Wet Kyein (Myo) Nan Tha Yway San Kar Pin Yin (Myo) Pe Tha Htu Leik Ya Zone Karr Yar Kyet Kyein Pe Lun Kha Mway Pauk Kyat Wa Leik Ya (South) Oe Hpyu (Thet + Myo)Oh Byu Sa Hone Kha Mway San Kar Pin Yin Saung Paing Nyar Hmaing Sa Ri Kyun Pauk Sin Oe Bo Bar Kyway Chaung RakhineKyway Chaung Ku Lar Sin Ma U Kaing Ree Dar Mee Wa Kyun Pauk Pyu Su Kyun Pauk Ku Lar Doe Tan Sin Hpyu Taung Done Paik Sa Hone Gyin Khar Say Ah Lel Baw Da Li Baw Da Li (2) Nga/Hta Yan Mon Than Pyin Myo Mi ChaungKyein Chaung Goke Pi Pauk Kyat CHINA Kyun Pauk Ywar Haung Hpaw Ti Kaung In Chaung Pan Kone Ma Seik Ta Ra Kyauk Tan Myaw Chaung Myar Zin INDIA Nga Thaing ChaungThan Pu Yar BUTHIDAUNG Mun Htaunt Kyun Gaung Sin Thay Pyin Mi Kyaung Tet Ba Ho Pyin Ywar Thit Taung Yin Ah Htet Thet Tin Yae Myet Ba Ho Pyin Ywar Haung Baw Di Kaing Chaung Chay Than Hmyar Ah Htet Pyu Ma Sa Bai Kone San Kar Taung Pyaung Pyit Doe Tan Saung Tu Than Hmyar Kun Zwe Zee Hton RakhineTaung Gyi Yin Thein Taung Auk Thet Tin Ngar Sar Kyu Yin Ma Zee Hton Pi Ywet RakhineYae Chan Myo Thit Pan Be Chaung Ku Lar Pein Hne Chaung Ku Lar Chaung Kyin Gyi Laung Shey Nyaung Pin Hla Nga Khu Ya Leik Aing Maung Hnit Ma Kyein Chaung Ku Lar Chaung Kywe Ta Ma Thar Si Myo Ah Nauk Pyin Sa Par Seik Kat Pa KaungLu Ban Pyin Pauk Taw Pyin Kyar