Myanmar ruling party National League of Democracy won a landslide victory in the general election on 8 November 2020, winning 396 out of 476 elected seats (83%) in the Union Parliament. The military-linked opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party, however, alleged that there were irregularities in the electoral process and demanded fresh
In the coming week, Myanmar will complete 12 months under the junta regime since the military staged a coup on 1 February 2021 on the allegation of voter fraud in the 2020 Myanmar General Elections undermining the voices of the people that they expressed through the electoral process. Since the coup, the
Five fresh corruption charges were brought by the junta against Myanmar's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi last week in relation to the alleged hiring and purchase of helicopters for the management of natural disasters and official affairs, which could lead to 75 years of imprisonment as each case can carry a
This week started with another four-year sentence by the special junta court in Naypyitaw to Myanmar's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday. The sentence includes two years of imprisonment for the illegal import of walkie talkies under the export-import law, one year for the possession of the devices under the
After the horrifying attack on civilians by junta forces on Christmas Eve in Hpruso township of Kayah state that killed more than 35 people, including women, children, and two employees of Save the Children, and the continued airstrikes in Lay Kay Kaw of Kayin State that resulted in thousands of people fleeing
The junta’s special court sentenced on 06 December, 2021 ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and president U Win Myint to four years in prison for incitement against the military under section 505b of the Penal Code and section 25 of the Natural Disaster Management Law for breaching COVID-19 rules. Hours
The court in Naypyitaw has delayed the first verdicts in the trial of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi until 6 December, the verdict expected to rule on 30 November. She faces two years in prison for the incitement charge for statements released by the National League of Democracy (NLD) when she
Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, former Mandalay Chief Minister and vice chairman of the NLD were charged with two additional counts under Section 171(f) and Section 130(a) of the Penal Code, alleging abuse of power to influence the vote in the 2020 general elections. He is also barred from taking the stand as
The junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC) filed charges against 16 people, including Myanmar’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint, former UEC Chair Hla Thein and UEC members Myint Naing and Than Htay over their alleged electoral fraud in the 2020 elections. This is the first time that the junta
According to Myanmar’s National Unity Government’s (NUG) Defense Ministry, 1,300 junta soldiers were killed and 463 injured in clashes with civilian resistance groups in October which was almost double the number the junta’s forces suffered in September. The verdict against Myanmar’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi for alleged violations of COVID-19
Myanmar’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi has denied two charges that she allegedly breached COVID-19 restrictions during the 2020 general election campaign. Four soldiers and a policeman involved in the raid of Aung San Suu Kyi's residence were cross-examined by her lawyers in the trial for illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies.
Myanmar’s ousted leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi appeared at the Naypyitaw’s court and deny the charge of incitement made by the junta as she testified on her own behalf since she was detained during the 1 February coup1. U Win Htein, the detained patron of the NLD party, was sentenced to
At least 110 people, including rock singer Ito, NLD members and anti-regime protesters, have been rearrested across the country by the junta immediately after being released, while the junta said that more than 5,600 people in custody or wanted for anti-junta activism would be released or have their arrest warrants canceled1. The
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is hosting two side events to the Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum 5 on 21 October 2021 at 3-4 p.m. (Bangkok time). The two parallel side events will discuss the democratic backsliding in Hong Kong and what the international community could do nine months since the
MARUAH, a human rights organization, hereby submits this statement on our concerns on the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Bill (FICA). Introduction We understand the need for governance on information and nature of expositions in a highly digitized world. Singapore is globalized which offers interconnectedness, swift operations and links across many sectors locally and
Ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi pleaded ‘not guilty’ to incitement charges under Section 505b of the Penal Code According to her legal team and her economic adviser Sean Turnell, she appeared at the Dekkhinathiri District Court in Naypyitaw, along with three ousted Union ministers for the first time since their arrest
The junta will put ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi on a new trial on four charges of corruption beginning on Oct 1 in Naypyidaw, adding to the ongoing cases that could see her jailed for decades. The Special Court in Naypyidaw has set a date for the sentencing of three defendants,
ASEAN's special envoy to Myanmar is in talks with the junta for his trip to Myanmar and seeking access to ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi. He has proposed a 4-month ceasefire by all sides to enable the smooth delivery of the first batch of humanitarian assistance to the country. The National
The undersigned organizations express their concern about the rapidly unfolding developments occurring in Afghanistan, including the entrance of Taliban troops in the capital Kabul on 15 August in violation of their February 2020 agreement with the government of the United States of America, the exile of President Ashraf Ghani, and growing numbers
Seventeen international human rights organizations today denounced the Thai government’s newly announced Regulation No. 29, which empowers the authorities to censor online expression, and investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for communications that may “instigate fear”. The Regulation is the government’s latest attack on the right to freedom of expression and information in
The Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, staged a military coup on 1 February 2021, just before the new parliament elected through the 2020 General Elections was to convene. The coup triggered mass nationwide protests and a civil disobedience movement, causing over 900 people being killed and thousands being detained to date. On the
ANFREL started publishing the monthly brief on the countries under a restrictive environment in April 2021 to provide an insight into the human rights and democracy situation in these countries. This brief covers issues related to elections and civil and political rights in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Hong Kong. Download here: Monthly
Today, in advance of the fifth anniversary of the unlawful killing of prominent political commentator and human rights defender Kem Ley, the 45 undersigned organizations reiterate their call for the Cambodian authorities to create an independent Commission of Inquiry tasked with conducting an independent, impartial and effective investigation into Kem Ley’s death.
ANFREL published its June issue of the monthly brief on the countries under a restrictive environment. As usual, the brief covers issues related to elections and civil and political rights in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar and Hong Kong in the past month. Download here: Monthly Brief on Countries under Restrictive Environment - Series #3 (June
Rights Groups Call for Decisive Action on International Day for Victims The Bangladesh government has failed to address widespread allegations of torture and ill-treatment by its security forces, ten rights groups said on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The groups called on the United Nations and concerned governments
Dhaka/Geneva, 25 June 2021: Odhikar and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) remember and pay tribute to victims of torture and stand in solidarity with the victims and their families on the occasion of International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (26 June). The institutionalised practice of custodial torture by the
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Sunday charged four members of the Mother Nature environmental movement with plotting an attack against the state and insulting the king, part of the targeted and outrageous persecution of frontline environmental defenders and grassroots activists by the government. Authorities should stop imprisoning and start listening to
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is hosting a webinar about inclusive political dialogue for a new Myanmar on 22 June 2021, at 5:30 p.m. (Bangkok time). From the protest actions in different parts of the country, the people of Myanmar are trying to regain freedom through their continuous resistance. Several
ANFREL started publishing the monthly brief on the countries under a restrictive environment in April 2021 to provide an insight into the human rights and democracy situation in these countries. In this issue, we will cover issues related to elections and civil and political rights in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar and Hong Kong.
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) released the final comprehensive report of its international election observation mission to the 2020 Myanmar general elections and said “it is its informed opinion that the results of the 2020 general elections were, by and large, representative of the will of the people of Myanmar”.
