Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Rape, forced labour, torture continue in Kachin State: HRW report


21 March 2012
(Mizzima) – The Burmese government has committed serious abuses 
and blocked humanitarian aid to tens of thousands of displaced civilians 
since June 2011, in fighting in Burma’s northern Kachin State, 
Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report released on Tuesday. 

Burmese Parliament amends foreign investment law


20 March 2012
(Mizzima) – The amended Foreign Investment Law will no longer 
require foreigners to establish businesses with Burmese citizens and 
will grant them a five-year tax holiday. The bill, passed by Parliament 
on Friday, must be signed by the president to become law.

Burma says GDP projected to increase 6.7 per cent


20 March 2012
(Mizzima) – Burma is shooting for a gross domestic product (GDP) 
increase of 6.7 per cent for the coming fiscal year 2012-13 which will 
start on April 1. The Parliament on Monday enacted the 2012-13 
National Planning Law, signed by President Thein Sein, the state-run 
New Light of Myanmar reported.

26 farmers sued for demanding the return of their confiscated farmlands


20 March 2012
Rathedaung: 26 farmers from Rathedaung Township in Arakan State 
have been sued by an army backed businessman for their efforts to 
retain their own shrimp and paddy farmlands that were confiscated by 
the army during the tenure of last military regime.

FTUB objects MoU signed by ILO and the Burmese government


20 March 2012
IMNA – Yesterday, the Federation of Trade Unions – Burma (FTUB) 
released a letter of protest related to the memorandum of 
understanding (MoU) of the International Labour Organization (ILO) 
and the Burmese government which was recently contracted 
to eradicate forced labor.