CHRO

By FELIZ SOLOMON / THE IRRAWADDY| Friday, January 16, 2015 |

RANGOON — A high-level delegation of US officials on Thursday concluded a two-day US-Myanmar Human Rights Dialogue, the second iteration of what could become a regular affair between the US State Department and the Burmese government in efforts to smooth the edges of a once-rougher regime.

Speaking to reporters in Rangoon on Friday, US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski said that while the discussions were “extremely constructive,” issues such as ethnic and religious intolerance pose an urgent threat to creating a stable democracy in Burma.

“The use of religion in particular to divide people, whether it is done for political or other purposes, is incredibly dangerous,” Malinowski warned, emphasizing that religious extremism could have severe consequences particularly in an election year.

Malinowski led the senior delegation, which included Lt-Gen Anthony Crutchfield, deputy commander of the US Pacific Command, on his second visit to the country since the United States began limited military cooperation with the Burma Army. Envoys representing departments of religious and refugee affairs were also among the convoy that coursed the country meeting civil society, military and government actors.

Following a visit to the Kachin State capital Myitkyina and workshops with women, ethnic and mainstream rights activists in Rangoon, the delegation headed to Naypyidaw for closed-door talks with Union ministers about the nation’s most pressing human rights concerns, including land policy, the rights of ethnic minorities and the role of the military.

The most urgent concern, he said, was ethnic and religious intolerance being used to divide communities, particularly in Arakan State, where more than 1 million Rohingya Muslims remain stateless and vulnerable. Malinowski urged the government to allow unfettered humanitarian access to internally displaced persons (IDPs), revise a plan that in its current form would either confine Rohingya to camps or risk deportation, and ultimately create a non-discriminatory path to citizenship.

Regarding the Burmese government’s handling of Rohingya statelessness, who bore the brunt of ethno-religious riots in mid-2012 and still face extreme disenfranchisement and often abuse by their Arakanese Buddhist neighbors, Malinowski said that, “I personally don’t view this as a question that has been resolved.”

While ethnic and religious intolerance dominated much of Friday’s briefing, Malinowski detailed a list of ongoing human rights concerns that arose from discussions with activists and other stakeholders during the delegation’s visit. Concerns about land policy, political detention and the right to peaceful assembly were shared across ethnic and religious boundaries, according to several activists who met with the delegation earlier this week.

Malinowski was appointed in April 2014 after 13 years as the Washington director of Human Rights Watch (HRW). His former colleague, HRW senior researcher on Burma David Mathieson, referred to him as “one of the founding fathers of US policy on Burma,” remarking that under his tenure the State Department has shown a sincere commitment to rights in Burma.

The State Department’s engagement with Burma has rapidly accelerated in recent years; full diplomatic relations were restored in 2012, economic sanctions were eased in 2013, and Malinowski announced during his last visit in mid-2014 that the US military was ready to begin “cautious engagement” with the Burma Army.

Engagement with Burma’s notorious military has been a frequent point of criticism among civil society, according to Salai Za Uk, director of the Chin Human Rights Organization, who attended a conference with ethnic activists hosted by the State Department earlier this week. While US law places explicit parameters on military-to-military cooperation, many activists still think the move is premature.

“If it’s all about teaching the Geneva Conventions, that’s OK,” said Za Uk, “but the mere fact that [the United States] is engaging with the Burma Army might embolden them.”

This week’s conference came in the wake of a recent state visit by US President Barack Obama that was both preceded and followed by dark marks on an already blackened military record. Less than two weeks before Obama’s arrival, a leading Harvard-based legal clinic published research implicating Burma’s home affairs minister and two other officials of war crimes linked to an offensive against the ethnic Karen minority less than a decade ago. Not a week after the president left Burma, the army fired several rounds of artillery onto a rebel training facility in Kachin State, killing 23 cadets and injuring more than a dozen more.

Malinowski conceded that while progress on human rights in Burma has proven to be a long and still precarious process, “three years ago we could not have done this.”

http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/us-rights-envoy-warns-dangerous-intolerance.html

By NOBEL ZAW / THE IRRAWADDY| Wednesday, October 15, 2014

RANGOON — Six ethnic Chin farmers who fled after having been arrested and allegedly tortured by the Burma Army returned to their village in Chin State’s Palatwa Township last week, a local community leader said, adding that the villagers were now demanding that an army commander be replaced.

Sein Aung, of the Palatwa Ceasefire Monitoring Group, said five farmers came back on Oct. 7 and a sixth on Oct. 11, after having fled the village of Kone Pyin on Sept. 21.

Sein Aung said the villagers returned after the Ceasefire Monitoring Group met with Tactical Commander Col. Kyaw Kyaw Win, who oversees Light Infantry Unit 344 and several other units in Chin State, to get guarantees that the men would be safe from retribution by the army.

“The villagers only want to Light Infantry Unit 344 to be moved away from their township. And if so, their concerns will be gone,” he added.

The Palatwa Ceasefire Monitoring Group comprises local community leaders and NGO representatives and is tasked with monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire between the CNF and the government. It follows troop movements and other conflict-related events in the area.

Chin human rights groups and one of the farmers from Palatwa have told the media that Light Infantry Unit 344 headed by Maj. Tin Htut Oo had detained six farmers for nine days in August, during which they were interrogated and severely beaten.

The men had been detained after the soldiers found out that they had offered armed Chin National Front (CNF) fighters a meal during a harvest festival in the village of Kone Pyin in August.

Shortly after they made the allegations in mid-September, five farmers were rearrested. They were held for two days and forced to sign a statement under duress stating that the beatings never happened. After their release on Sept. 21, they fled to the Burma-India border.

Tluang Ceu, general secretary of the Chin Ceasefire Monitoring Team, said he discussed the torture allegations with Col. Kyaw Kyaw Win on Oct. 10 and had demanded that Maj. Tin Htut Oo be punished.

“The colonel is preparing to take action against Maj. Tin Htut Oo but because of nature of the military [command chain], it’s difficult to transfer him from the region immediately,” Tluang Ceu told The Irrawaddy.

Sein Aung said, however, that the ceasefire monitoring had concluded that the CNF fighters had contributed to the situation by coming into Kone Pyin village in uniform and carrying arms, an act that had violated conditions of the bilateral ceasefire agreement between the CNF and the government that was signed in 2012.

Salai Isaac Khen, a Chin activist and executive director of Gender and Development Initiative, said the incident had occurred because the ceasefire agreement failed to set out conditions that would help protect civilians living in the conflict zone.

“This case is happened because in the ceasefire agreement there have no clear requirements for taking action when local people are affected by the Burmese military and the CNF,” he said.

With the help of Chin NGOs, one of the farmers sent a letter of complaint to Burma Army Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing and the Chin State Chief Minister.

http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/chin-farmers-alleged-army-torture-return-village.html

DOCUMENT – MYANMAR: FARMERS AT RISK AFTER BEATING BY SOLDIERS

UA: 245/14 Index: ASA 16/002/2014 Myanmar Date: 30 September 2014

URGENT ACTION
FARMERS AT RISK AFTER beatING BY SOLDIERS

Six Chin farmers who were ill-treated – some tortured – by Myanmar Army soldiers are at risk of further human rights violations after speaking out publicly about their ordeal. All six are now in hiding. A seventh farmer who was also tortured has fled to India.

On 28 August, soldiers, understood to be under the command of Light Infantry Battalion 344, detained and beat 40-year-old farmer U Maung Sein from Kone Pyin village until he passed out. They had accused him of having contact with the Chin National Army (CNA), an armed group which operates in Myanmar’s western Chin State. The next day, the same soldiers detained and interrogated two more farmers, U Kyaw Aung and U Aye Hla along with U Maung Sein, tied the three men up and beat them. On 31 August, soldiers beat another farmer, U Aung Kyaw Hla, with a wooden pole until he lost consciousness for around four hours. When he regained consciousness, he and three more farmers – U Kyaw Myint Oo, U Aung So and U Sanay Aung – were also detained.

The seven men were held in the same place, including in and nearby a hut used by U Kyaw Aung. They were tied up, beaten and kicked; three of the men were tied to a tree overnight. As a result of the beatings U Maung Sein and U Sanay Aung suffered swelling to their faces, to the point that they could not open their eyes, and all seven were deprived of food while they were detained. U Sanay Aung managed to escape on 1 September and fled to India; the six others were held until 5 September. On 4 September they were forced to sign a statement admitting to having contact with the CNA and promising never to contact them again. They were released the following day.
Fearing further ill-treatment, the six men fled to Paletwa town on 8 September and sent a written complaint to the Chin State government. U Aung Kyaw Hla travelled to Yangon to seek medical treatment for a suspected blood clot in his brain and a neck injury and at a 17 September press conference accused the Army of torture. Meanwhile, the five others travelled back to Kone Pyin village after a soldier showed them a letter stating that the Army acknowledged wrong-doing and would provide compensation. However, on 19 and 20 September they were interrogated again and forced to sign a statement denying they were tortured. They then fled and are now in hiding.

Please write immediately in Burmese, English or your own language:
Calling on the authorities to immediately ensure that the six farmers – U Aye Hla, UMaung Sein, U Kyaw Aung, U Aung Kyaw Hla, U Kyaw Myint Oo, and U Aung So are not subjected to further torture or other ill-treatment, and that they are allowed to return to their homes in safety and without fear of reprisal;
Demanding that they order a prompt, impartial and effective investigation into allegations of torture and other ill-treatment by the Myanmar Army, bring suspected perpetrators, including those with command responsibility, to justice in independent, civilian courts, in fair trials and grant reparations to the victims;
Urging Myanmar to ratify the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, incorporate its provisions in domestic law and implement it in policy and practice.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 11 NOVEMBER 2014 TO:

President
U Thein Sein
President’s Office
Nay Pyi Taw
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Salutation: Your Excellency

Commander in Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing
Building 24
Nay Pyi Taw
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Salutation: Dear General

And copies to:
Chin State Chief Minister
Hung Ngai
Chin State Government
Chin State
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Fax: +95 7021108

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:
Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax number Email address Salutation

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

URGENT ACTION
FARMERS AT RISK AFTER beatING BY SOLDIERS

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The sub-village headman of Kone Pyin village, U Shwe Sein, was also arbitrarily detained by soldiers on 28 August. They accused him of allowing CNA soldiers into the area around the village. He was held at the Shinletwa military camp until 9 September, when he was released. According to credible sources, U Shwe Sein was not tortured or otherwise ill-treated while he was detained.

The CNA is the armed wing of the Chin National Front (CNF). The CNF first signed a ceasefire agreement on 6 January 2012 with the Chin State government, and signed two further agreements with the Myanmar government in May and December that year.

Amnesty International regularly receives credible reports of the police and military committing torture and other ill-treatment with impunity. In his final report to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2014, the then Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, expressed concern about the continuing practice of torture in places of detention and the lack of accountability for such acts. Torture is not specifically and explicitly prohibited in Myanmar and there are no adequate mechanisms in law or practice that allow victims of torture and other ill-treatment to complain safely about the treatment they suffer, for prompt, impartial and effective investigations into such complaints or reports, for suspected perpetrators to be held to account, or for victims and their families to receive adequate reparations.

Chin State is in a remote mountainous part of western Myanmar and is mainly populated by the ethnic Chins who are approximately 90 per cent Christian. Numerous human rights violations – largely at the hands of the Myanmar Army – such as, unlawful killings, rape and other crimes of sexual violence, and violations of the right to freedom of religion have been reported in Chin State for decades.

Names: U Aye Hla, U Maung Sein, U Kyaw Aung, U Aung Kyaw Hla, U Kyaw Myint Oo, U Aung So, U Sanay Aung.
Gender m/f: m

UA: 245/14 Index: ASA 16/002/014 Issue Date: 30 September 2014

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA16/002/2014/en/b4c6ab24-432a-46e9-ab68-41f841ed970f/asa160022014en.html

UA: 179/14 Index: ASA 16/015/2014 Myanmar Date: 18 July 2014

URGENT ACTION
ACTIVISTS FACING JAIL FOR PEACEFUL PROTEST

Eight Chin human rights defenders in Myanmar are facing imprisonment for peacefully protesting against impunity for sexual violence in Chin State. If convicted and jailed, Amnesty International would consider them prisoners of conscience.
The eight activists – six women, Ngun Chin Par, Sui Sui Kyi, Kaw Htwe, Khin Khin Zi, Thang Zing and Khin Thluai Par and two men, Maung Han and Tei Mang – have been charged with protesting without permission after they took part in peaceful demonstrations in Rezua sub-township and Matupi town in Matupi township, Chin State on 23 and 24 June. The protests were organized after a man believed to be a soldier from the Myanmar Army attempted to rape a 55-year-old woman from Rezua sub-township, and beat her, on 10 June. The solider is understood to have been arrested and handed over to the military by police.

Activists from the Zotung Women’s Organization (ZWO) and the Matupi Women’s Organization (MWO) later applied to their local police stations for official permission to protest peacefully in Rezua sub-township and Matupi town. Neither application was granted. The activists went ahead anyway, and peaceful protests were held in Rezua sub-township on 23 June and Matupi town the next day, attended by hundreds of people.

Four activists from the Zotung Women’s Organization, two from the Matupi Women’s Organization and two from the Matupi Youth Association (MYA) were summoned to their local police stations on 25 June and charged with protesting without permission under Article 18 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law. They are facing up to one year in prison. All eight activists were released on bail and are being tried by the Matupi District Court in two separate cases. The next court hearings are due to take place on 22 July.

Please write immediately in English or your own language:
Calling on the Myanmar authorities to drop the charges against Ngun Chin Par, Sui Sui Kyi, Kaw Htwe, Khin Khin Zi, Thang Zing, Khin Thluai Par, Maung Han and Tei Mang immediately;
Calling on them to repeal or else amend all laws which restrict the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, so as to comply with international human rights law and standards;
Calling on them to order a prompt, effective and independent investigation into the allegations of attempted rape on 10 June, bring those responsible to justice in a civilian court, in trials which meet international standards of fairness.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 29 AUGUST 2014 TO:

President Thein Sein
President’s Office
Nay Pyi Taw
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Home Affairs
Lt Gen. Ko Ko
Ministry of Home Affairs
Office No. 10
Nay Pyi Taw
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Salutation: Dear Minister

And copies to:
Chairman, Myanmar National Human
Rights Commission
U Win Mra
27 Pyay Road, Hline Township
Yangon
Republic of the Union of Myanmar

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:
Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

URGENT ACTION
ACTIVISTS FACING JAIL FOR PEACEFUL PROTEST
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Ngun Chin Par, Sui Sui Kyi, Kaw Htwe and Khin Khin Zi are activists with the Zotung Women’s Organization (ZWO). Thang Zing and Khin Thluai Par are activists with the Matupi Women’s Organization (MWO) and Maung Han and Tei Mang are activists with the Matupi Youth Association (MYA).
Human rights defenders and activists in Myanmar are being arrested and detained simply for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and assembly, enshrined in Articles 19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Amnesty International is particularly concerned about the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law, which has been used to detain scores of activists since it was enacted in 2012. Former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, has identified the law as one of a number of legal provisions which are used to detain prisoners of conscience and has repeatedly called on the Myanmar authorities to bring it into line with international human rights law and standards.

Amnesty International receives ongoing reports of rape and other crimes of sexual violence committed by the security forces in Myanmar, in particular by military officials against women from ethnic minority groups. Perpetrators are rarely brought to justice, and victims/ survivors are often unable to access adequate medical, psychological, mental health and, sexual and reproductive services or treatment.

On 5 June 2014 Myanmar became the 150th state to sign the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. The Declaration includes a range of actions to be taken by states to “raise awareness of [sexual violence], to challenge the impunity that exists and to hold perpetrators to account, to provide better support to victims, and to support both national and international efforts to build the capacity to prevent and respond to sexual violence in conflict”. The Myanmar authorities are not known to have taken any concrete action to give effect to the commitments outlined in the Declaration.

Names: Ngun Chin Par, Sui Sui Kyi, Kaw Htwe, Khin Khin Zi, Thang Zing, Khin Thluai Par, Maung Han and Tei Mang.

Gender m/f: both

UA: 179/14 Index: ASA 16/015/2014 Issue Date: 18 July 2014

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA16/015/2014/en/a0808251-6590-4264-a8e4-f067dd1a0ae7/asa160152014en.html

Wednesday, 25 June 2014 11:55 Written by Thawng Zel Thang 
Published in Chin News

25 June 2014 – Hundreds of people staged separate peaceful protests in Rezua and Matupi, Chin State on Monday and Tuesday, calling for an immediate end to sexual violence against ethnic women.

About 400 protesters in Rezua and over 200 in Matupi participated in the events, prompted by the attempted rape of a 40-year-old woman by a Burma Army soldier early this month.

Some of the placards read: ‘Stop raping; We are humans, not animals. We are humans, not property.’

Pi Ngun Chin Par, a leader of Rezua women’s organization, said that there had to be justice and that soldiers had to be properly controlled through strict discipline in order to ensure security for women.

Event organizing leaders from Rezua and Matupi women’s organizations said that they had applied for official permission to hold a demonstration in advance but the authorities didn’t give it.

“We were not given permission but we went ahead with our plans although we faced some threats from local authorities. We did this only to express our voices in ensuring safety and security for women,” added Par.

On Wednesday last week, some women leaders were summoned to the Rezua Sub-township Administration Office and threatened that the authorities would not be responsible for any problems relating to the events.

As of today, no action has been taken against Private Myo Thura Kyaw, from Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion No. 269, for the attempted rape of the local woman.

http://chinlandguardian.com/index.php/chin-news/item/2177-protests-calling-for-end-to-raping-ethnic-women

Monday, 23 June 2014 13:16 Written by Chinland Guardian

23 June 2014 – A Chin woman was subjected to a brutal beating during an attempted rape by a Burma Army soldier from Light Infantry Battalion No. 269 in Rezua Sub-township, Chin State on 10 June.

The alleged perpetrator Private Myo Thura Kyaw grabbed the woman on the road between Rezua and her farm. Local eyewitnesses reported to the Chin Human Rights Organization that they came across the soldier holding the woman down and repeatedly striking her.

“She fought back as hard as she could in her struggle to get free. But she was beaten badly,” said one of the eyewitnesses.

Another eyewitness said: “As soon as the soldier saw us, he ran away. I don’t dare to imagine what would have happened to her if we hadn’t arrived on the scene.”

The victim, who is married and believed to be around 40 years of age, was immediately rushed to the hospital in Rezua and has been receiving treatment since then for serious injuries inflicted during the assault.

Private Myo Thura Kyaw was initially kept in Rezua police custody after a report on the incident was made to both the local authorities and the Chin State Administration Office. Latest reports from Rezua indicate that the soldier, from the battalion headed by Major Aung Thu Win, has been sent to Matupi Town and is waiting for an official order from the military authorities regarding the case.

On 12 June, locals from all Christian denominations gathered in Rezua football ground to hold a prayer service in protest against the incident.

Local residents said that they had witnessed other violent incidents over the past year. A Rezua local was allegedly shot dead by a police officer inside Rezua police station earlier this year, while another Burma Army soldier was reported to have attempted to rape a 14 year-old girl last year. Local residents said the attempted rape was not reported due to fear of social stigma.

http://chinlandguardian.com/index.php/chin-news/item/2174-chin-woman-seriously-injured-during-attempted-rape-by-burma-army-soldier

RFA Chin Radio

Section (1) News
1) Chin Scholar, Dr. Bianca Son Suantak mual in liamsan
2) Paletwa Peng, Yat Chaung Tlangkulh ah ALP in Paisa khong
3) Kum 2015-16 sungah Hakha-Matupi-Paletwa lamzin theh ding
4) Phun 10 All D ngah ve tu, Falam Peng, Bualkhua mi, Mai Marry ih thu tawi
5) Mway Taung, Pha Tuang thuhla Chin State Hluttaw in an thei lo

Section (2) Interview with Mai Rosalinn Zahau

Myanmar acozah ih May 27 ni ah rak suahmi, Religious Conversion Law thawn pehpar in Siganature Campaign tuah rero tu, Chin Human Rights Ogranization (CHRO) ih Researcher Mai Rosalinn Zahau thawn thurel tlangnak a si.

Khonumthung Chin News Group, TUESDAY, JUNE 17TH, 2014

Various church leaders in Hakha town held a prayer meeting to boycott and not to adopt the draft of the ‘Religious Conversion Law’ in Myanmar, drafted by the Ministry of Religious department, at Carson Hall on 16 June.  At the meeting, Pastor Bawi Cung Lian said, “This draft can hinder the progress of Christianity. So we held a prayer meet not to adopt the draft and to change the mindset of the concerned authorities and the President.”

About 800 local people attended the meet held from morning 7 to 8 at Carson Hall in Hakha town.

The draft “Religious Conversion Law”, published in state-run media on 27 May 2014, sets out a process for applying for official permission to convert from one religion to another.

In a media statement the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) said that ‘It grants Township-level officials from various government departments sweeping powers to determine  whether an applicant has exercised free will in choosing to change his or her religion.

Those found to be applying for conversion “with the intent of insulting or destroying a religion” could be punished by up to two years’ imprisonment, raising the prospect of arbitrary arrests and detention for those wishing to convert from Theravada Buddhism – the faith of the majority in Burma/Myanmar – to a minority religion, or no religion at all.’

Members of the Chin Baptist Church demonstrated before the Embassy of Myanmar in Washington DC, USA on June 13, while US based Chin affairs officials sent a letter to President Thein Sein, asking to cancel and not to discuss in the Parliament session the draft ‘Religious Conversion Law’ in Myanmar.

http://khonumthung.org/2014/06/17/prayer-to-boycott-religious-conversion-law-draft/

June 16, 2014  •  Author: Karen News   •  Posted in Articles

International civil society organisations, human rights watchdogs and advocacy groups have issued a united call for Burma’s government to drop its proposed legislation that places restrictions on an individual’s right to freedom of religion.

An alliance of 81 organisations pressed that Burma’s government, led by President U Thein Sein, scrap the Religious Conversion Law, saying that it is an attack on fundamental human rights.

“If adopted, this law would violate fundamental human rights and could lead to further violence against Muslims and other religious minorities in the country,” the alliance of 81 organisations said in an released statement. “This new piece of draft legislation appears to legitimize the views of those promoting hate-speech and inciting violence against Muslims and other minorities, and if adopted, will further institutionalize discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities.”

The Religious Conversion Law, first published for all to see in state-run media on the 27th of May, proposes a process in which Burma’s citizens would require official permission to convert their religion. The law would also grant officials the power to determine whether someone seeking to convert was doing so of their own free will.

Citizens found to be converting with the intent of “insulting or destroying” a religion faced two years in prison. The alliance said that this raised the prospect of, “arbitrary arrest and detention for those wishing to convert from Theravada Buddhism – the faith of the majority in Burma/Myanmar – to a minority religion, or no religion at all.” The alliance added: “The broad wording of this provision may effectively outlaw proselytizing in the country.”

Freedom of religion is enshrined as a human right. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

In a statement released this month, the New York based Human Rights Watch, condemned the law, which is part of of newly proposed legislation placing restrictions on inter-faith marriage, religious freedoms, polygamy and family planning.

HRW said that laws, which discriminate on religion, could lead to the “repression and violence against Muslims and other religious minorities.”

The suit of laws has been drafted under the instruction of President Thein Sein and the Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament, Shwe Mann. The laws were first proposed by a group called the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion which has alleged links to the extremist nationalist Buddhist ‘969’ movement which has gained international notoriety for anti-Muslim slogans, calls to boycott Muslim stores and ‘hate speech’.

The draft law includes a provision granting sweeping powers to the Ministry of Religious Affairs to issue further directives following the implementation of the legislation, though it is yet unclear what this would mean if the legislation passes into law. The alliance noted in their statement, however, that a key objective listed on the Ministry’s website proclaimed its dedication to the “purification, perpetuation, promotion and propagation of the Theravada Buddhist Sasana [religious doctrine].”

Rachel Fleming, Advocacy Director at the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO), claimed that the law promoted ethnic hatred.

“The proposed law appears to legitimize the views of extreme nationalists and those promoting hate-speech, which is why it should be scrapped immediately,” she said in an interview with Karen News, “the broad wording of the provision about exerting ‘undue influence or pressure’ on another to convert may effectively criminalize proselytizing, especially when we consider that Township-level officials are given sweeping powers to make such assessments. This could potentially lead to [ethnic] Chin Christian missionaries and others being imprisoned for up to one year under this law.”

The law also effectively contradicted Burma’s flawed 2008 constitution Ms Fleming told Karen News. “The preamble to the draft law states that, ‘there is a need for transparency and a system in place under Article 34 of the Constitution to regulate freedom of religion and the freedom to choose and convert religion.’ In reality it places severe restrictions on the right to freedom of religion or belief.”

Ms Fleming confirmed to Karen News that the laws were connected to the ‘969’ movement, and warned that all of Burma’s citizens should be concerned over the law. “Everyone in Burma should be concerned about this draft law, as it restricts a basic human right. Whether someone wanted to convert from Theravada Buddhism to another school of Buddhism – or decided that they no longer follow any belief system – they would be faced with these restrictions under this law. We urge people to voice their opposition to this proposed legislation, and to speak up for human rights.”

http://karennews.org/2014/06/advocacy-groups-claim-burmas-discriminatory-religious-conversion-law-legitimises-hate-speech.html/