ND-Burma Periodic Report underlines human rights abuses in Burma, with focus on land confiscation

Media Advisory: ND-Burma Periodic Report underlines human rights abuses in Burma, with focus on land confiscation. The Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma) has released a periodic report documenting the human rights situation in Burma during the period of April 2012– September 2012. The report documents 114 cases of human rights violations (HRVs) committed by the government and its supporters in the 14 states and regions throughout Burma.

ND-Burma documented 27 cases of forced labour, 26 cases of land confiscation and 21 cases of torture. The violations were committed as direct result of on-going armed conflict, and the marriage of military and industry.

According to the report, “The confiscation and destruction of property that ND-Burma has reported through the efforts of field workers has been reflected by the growing number of reports in recent news out of Burma. The weakness of the 2012 Farmland Law has allowed the government and closely linked businesses to continue to commit these HRVs unabated.”

The report goes on to note, “As ND-Burma has documented in case studies, for every report of land being confiscated or property destroyed, there are families and entire villages of people across Burma being stripped of their livelihoods.

It should be noted that the report does not serve as a representative sampling of all HRVs that take place in Burma. Because of security concerns, human rights monitoring cannot take place openly.

The full report can be viewed at: www.nd-burma.org

For further information,

Name: Nai Aue Mon

Mobile: (+66) 861-679-741

Name: Lway Poe Pheing

Mobile: (+66) 856-056-041