Under military rule since 1962, Burma is governed by one of the most brutal and corrupt regimes in the world. The military junta, the State of Peace and Development Council (SPDC), has created a state of fear and continues to refuse to cede power to the National League for Democracy (NLD), which won a landslide victory of 82% of the seats in the 1990 democratic elections. Until today, the SPDC has prevented the elected assembly to convene.

 

The people of Burma are victims of grave human rights violations including: summary and arbitrary executions, torture, kidnappings, arrests and imprisonment without trial, widespread and systematic use of rape and forced labour, denial of fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of assembly, association and expression, the recruitment of child soldiers and massive relocation of civilian populations.

 

Currently, there are approximately 1,100 political prisoners in Burma. The highest profile prisoner is Daw Aung Sun Suu Kyi, leader of the NLD and Nobel Peace Laureate, who remains until today under house arrest, where she has spent over 11 years of her life.

 

The Burmese generals are now trying to promote their own version of “democratic reforms” which consist of entrenching and legitimizing the role of the military in the governance of the country in a new National Constitutional Convention (National Convention).

 

 

Rights & Democracy works closely with the exiled National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) and Canadian NGOs, in particular Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB), pursuing Canadian, regional and international advocacy efforts on Burma. It also works with a local women’s rights organization, the Burmese Women Union (BWU), which is located on Burma’s borders and builds the capacity of women from Burma to participate in the pro-democracy movement.