This briefer, which covers the period from January
2014 to April 2014, includes the following developments:
• Almost two years since sectarian violence
broke out in Arakan State, Muslim Rohingya continue to face persecution,
discrimination, and violence as a result of the regime’s
policies and attacks instigated by anti-Muslim hate speech.
• The regime encourages the adoption of
discriminatory legislation and fails to take action against demonstrations
that incite anti-Muslim and anti-Rohingya hatred and hate speech.
• The regime reneges on its promise to
allow Rohingya to self-identify; police, Tatmadaw soldiers, and
immigration officials intimidate Rohingya during in nationwide
census.
• Following a new surge of anti-Rohingya
violence which swept through Arakan State in January 2014, the
regime stokes tensions between Buddhist Rakhine and Muslim Rohingya
by supporting the idea that aid workers were giving preferential
medical treatment to Rohingya.
• Rising tension towards Rohingya in Arakan
State leads to attacks against international aid workers for their
alleged pro-Rohingya stance.
• Despite the obvious demand for aid in
Arakan State following the regime’s expulsion of MSF, the
humanitarian aid situation further deteriorates after anti-Rohingya
mob attacks force aid agencies to leave.
• Despite ongoing talks between the regime
and ethnic armed groups to reach a nationwide ceasefire, the Tatmadaw
intensifies its military offensives against the KIA, the SSA-N,
the SSA-S, and the TNLA in Kachin and Northern Shan States.
• Tatmadaw troops continue to directly
target civilians, including women and children, as part of their
military operations in Kachin and Northern Shan States. Civilians
are killed during artillery attacks on their villages, while others
are captured and tortured.
• From January to March 2014, regime authorities
charged or arrested a total of 95 activists, journalists, and
human rights defenders. According to Assistance Association for
Political Prisoners (AAPP), there are still at least 40 political
prisoners behind bars.
• More than 12 months since the National
Parliament approved a proposal to set up a commission to review
the 2008 military-drafted constitution, the regime, the Union
Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), and military-dominated
Parliament have done little to amend its problematic clauses.