• The first nine months of 2014 have seen
a backward slide in terms of reform.
• Instead of reforms to strengthen human rights, democracy
and peace, the Parliament has fast-tracked anti-Muslim legislation
and pro-investment laws, and adopted rules to undermine free and
fair elections.
• The regime has failed to fulfill its promise to release
all political prisoners by the end of 2013. Instead, the number
of political prisoners has risen since the beginning of 2014.
• Peace talks between the regime and the ethnic armed groups
are fragile and patchy. The Tatmadaw requires the ethnic groups
to abide by the 2008 constitution, directly contradicting the
ethnic groups’ demand for a federal union and a federal
army.
• Impunity, especially for crimes committed by the Tatmadaw,
continues to be a serious problem for minorities in Arakan, Kachin,
and Shan States. Civilians continue to be targeted by the Tatmadaw
as the war in Kachin and Shan States continues into its fourth
year.
• Anti-Muslim and anti-Rohingya violence and hate speech
has intensified, with security forces involved in many instances.
• The census excluded those who identified as Rohingya.
Those who gave in and identified as ‘Bengali’ are
now being subjected to an oppressive ‘citizenship assessment’
process that may lead to deportation or lifelong internment in
camps.
