• Burmese
Saturday, July 19, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
26 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

On Human Rights Day, Burma Activists Say More Work to Do

San Yamin Aung by San Yamin Aung
December 10, 2013
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0 0
A A
On Human Rights Day

Nearly 60 people have been jailed in the last two years under a law on peaceful assemblies in Burma.

4.3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

RANGOON — Activists in Burma say that although the country’s human rights situation is better now than it was under decades of oppressive military rule, rights abuses persist in the Southeast Asian nation.

Burma marked International Human Rights Day on Tuesday, 65 years to the date that the United Nations adopted its Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“In the past, we didn’t have the chance to say what we wanted. Now, compared to the past, we are beginning to have a chance, but not fully,” said Thein Swe, a member of Parliament who was jailed six months for participating in a protest on Human Rights Day in 1991.

RelatedPosts

Govt ‘Blacklist’ Practices Highlight Lack of Transparency

Govt ‘Blacklist’ Practices Highlight Lack of Transparency, Activists Say

August 4, 2016
4.5k
Advocacy Group Calls for Release of Arrested Arakan Activist

Advocacy Group Calls for Release of Arrested Arakan Activist

August 4, 2016
4.3k
Women Continue to Suffer Due to Land Grabs and Militarization

Women Continue to Suffer Due to Land Grabs and Militarization

August 3, 2016
13.2k

On that day 22 years ago, students from Rangoon University and the Rangoon Institute of Technology (now called Yangon Technical University) organized a demonstration to show their support for Aung San Suu Kyi, who had recently been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma. At the time, she was under house arrest in Rangoon.

The peaceful demonstration in 1991 began on the Rangoon University campus, with protestors demanding the release of Suu Kyi and all other activists detained by the government for voicing pro-democracy sentiments, including the prominent student leader Min Ko Naing.

The demonstration continued for two days and threatened to spread to universities and colleges in other cities. Perhaps fearing a repeat of the nationwide uprising in 1988 that unseated Gen Ne Win, Burma’s military regime closed higher education institutions across the country.

They arrested several hundred students who had participated in the demonstrations as part of the crackdown. More than 100 of those detainees were sentenced to between 10 and 20 years’ imprisonment by a military court.

Despite a notably improved human rights situation in Burma today, Thein Swe said abuses continue throughout the country, including widespread land confiscation by the military and powerful business interests.

“We need to keep trying to fully realize human rights. People need to understand more about human rights,” Thein Swe said.

Bo Bo Han, who was jailed 15 years for his role in organizing the Dec. 10, 1991, protest, said that freedom of expression and association remained limited in Burma.

“Article 18 of the Peaceful Assembly Law should not exist. As long as the article exists and arrests are made under that law, full human rights is not possible,” he said.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) says 130 activists have been charged under the Peaceful Assembly Law, which was adopted in December 2011 and requires that would-be demonstrators get permission from the government prior to staging any organized assembly. A total of 57 activists have been jailed for protesting without authorization, according to the association.

“Challenges for many individuals and communities still remain,” Matthew Hedges, the British Embassy’s deputy head of mission, said in a press release on Tuesday. “For example, I note the increasing number of people charged and convicted in 2013 under Section 18 of the Peaceful Assembly Law. It is our hope that the law will be brought in line with international standards following discussions in Parliament.”

The book “10D,” which details the lives of more than 30 students who participated in the Nobel Peace demonstration on Dec. 10, 1991, was released on Tuesday.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: More
San Yamin Aung

San Yamin Aung

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

ABSDF Report Finds Torture
Burma

ABSDF Report Finds Torture, Leaves Questions in Killing of Its Own

by Nyein Nyein
March 16, 2015
6.2k

A report into the killing of 35 members of the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front by its own leadership documents...

Read moreDetails
‘Twilight Over Burma’ Tells Tragic Tale of Austrian Shan Princess
Burma

‘Twilight Over Burma’ Tells Tragic Tale of Austrian Shan Princess

by Nyein Nyein
May 30, 2016
11.2k

Movie about Inge Sargent, an Austrian who became a Shan princess, is screened in Thailand, shedding light on human rights...

Read moreDetails
A Story of Modern Slavery in Thailand
Burma

A Story of Modern Slavery in Thailand

by Saw Yan Naing
August 21, 2015
6k

Hoping for a brighter future, Maung Htay left Burma when he was just a teenager. He is now 42, but...

Read moreDetails
Migrants’ Hopes and Fears in Little Burma
Asia

Migrants’ Hopes and Fears in Little Burma

by Nyein Nyein
July 16, 2016
10.3k

Known locally as Mahachai, and by foreigners as ‘Little Burma,’ Thailand’s Samut Sakhon hosts up to 400,000 Burmese migrants working...

Read moreDetails
Girl Who Accused Employer of Rape Faces Charges of Theft
Burma

Girl Who Accused Employer of Rape Faces Charges of Theft

by The Irrawaddy
February 26, 2013
13.1k

A 15-year-old girl who says her employer repeatedly raped her is taken into custody after the wife of her alleged...

Read moreDetails
Did a Golden Triangle Leader Fall for a UN Peace Prize Hoax?
Burma

Did a Golden Triangle Leader Fall for a UN Peace Prize Hoax?

by Patrick Boehler and Echo Hui
January 4, 2013
4.7k

Serious doubts have been raised about the awarding of a dubious United Nations peace prize to Kokang Chairman Pai Sou...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
Plans Afoot to Launch European-Backed Journalism School in Burma

Plans Afoot to Launch European-Backed Journalism School in Burma

Timing of SEA Games Opening Seen as Auspicious by Some

Timing of SEA Games Opening Seen as Auspicious by Some

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Myanmar Junta’s Recapture of Nawnghkio Shows Strategic Missteps by TNLA

Myanmar Junta’s Recapture of Nawnghkio Shows Strategic Missteps by TNLA

2 days ago
1.3k
Chinese Investment Reshapes Myanmar’s N. Shan as MNDAA Consolidates Power

Chinese Investment Reshapes Myanmar’s N. Shan as MNDAA Consolidates Power

1 week ago
3.5k

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta’s Power Transfer Looms, but Real Control to Remain With Regime Boss

    Myanmar Junta’s Power Transfer Looms, but Real Control to Remain With Regime Boss

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta’s Recapture of Nawnghkio Shows Strategic Missteps by TNLA

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Airstrikes Protecting Irrawaddy Flotilla Kill 20

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Indian Army Accused of Deadly Strike on Separatists in Myanmar

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Karen Fighters Push for Myanmar Junta Outpost on Thai Border

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.