Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) on May 13 released a new report on human rights in Burma following a four-week fact-finding visit to the country.
The report welcomes signs of political change in the country, including ‘significantly increased freedom’ for media, civil society and political actors, and improvements in freedom of expression in some areas, but warns against ‘premature euphoria’ and highlights ‘many very grave challenges and concerns, particularly in respect to the protection of human rights, including freedom of religion or belief’.
Visits
In addition to visiting the capital Naypidaw and Rangoon, CSW visited Kachin State, in northern Burma, where a conflict has continued for almost two years, resulting in the displacement of at least 100,000 civilians. CSW also visited a Muslim community near Naypyidaw, three days after an attack by a militant Buddhist mob on March 22.
Noting a new ‘climate of openness’ in Rangoon and other cities, the report also notes that ‘the testimonies provided by internally displaced Kachin people during the visit included some of the worst accounts of human rights violations CSW has ever documented’.
CSW was accompanied for part of the visit by Lord Alton of Liverpool, a member of the House of Lords.
