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Alternative Asean Network on Burma
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REFORMS IN BURMA: ON THE DOWNWARD SLOPE

 
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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.