New arrests in minority regions overshadow the democratization process in Burma

The democratization process in Burma is overshadowed by new arrests of members of the Kachin ethnic minority. On Wednesday, the Society for Threatened Peoples in Göttingen reported that about 100 civilians were arrested in the embattled state of Kachin during the last few weeks – because they allegedly supported the Kachin independence movement. "While about 650 political prisoners were released in the larger cities of Burma since May 2011, civilians in the nationality areas are being arrested only because of their ethnicity or because of political reasons," criticized the STP's Asia consultant, Ulrich Delius.

"The International Community needs to pay more attention to the ongoing civil war in Kachin," said Delius. "We regret that the UN Special Representative for Burma, Tomas Quintana, will not be able to get an own impression of the ongoing human rights violations in Kachin state during his five-day visit to Burma. "They Myanmar authorities did not approve of Quintana's request for a longer visit. Therefore, the Special Representative will only travel to the troubled region of Arakan (officially Rakhine State) to take part in political debates in Yangon and the capital city of Naypyidaw.

Evidence for continued human rights violations committed by the army in the minority regions can be found easily. On July 22, 2012, for example, the body of a Kachin civilian was found. He had been arrested on July 1st by Burmese soldiers. Together with 26 other men from the village of Yi Hku, Galau Bawm Yaw was arrested for allegedly supporting the Kachin Independence Movement. Most of the other detainees were released later on. As the body showed numerous wounds and as the head was smashed, the family of Galau Bawm Yaw assumes that he was tortured by the soldiers.

The case of Brang Shawng, who was arrested in a refugee camp on June 17, 2012, is typical: The 25-year-old is accused of having supported the Kachin independence movement. He was tortured until he confessed. Now he is now facing court and awaits a long prison sentence, because the judge refused to examine the allegations of him being tortured.