HRW: ‘MYANMAR JUNTA EXTENDS MARTIAL LAW’

On 27 February, Human Rights Watch expressed its deep concerns with the extension of martial law over 50 townships across multiple States and regions in Myanmar and called on the concerned governments and the ASEAN, in particular Indonesia, to do more to press Myanmar’s military to end its abuses and restore the civilian democratic government.

FORTIFY RIGHTS: ‘ENSURE THE RIGHT TO FOOD FOR ROHINGYA REFUGEES IN BANGLADESH’

On 23 February, Fortify Rights called on the donor governments to ensure Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have access to adequate food aid and the Government of Bangladesh should lift restrictions on Rohingya rights to work and freedom of movement.

HRW: ‘FOOD CRISIS IN ROHINGYA REFUGEE CAMPS IN BANGLADESH’

On 21 February, Human Rights Watch expressed its concern about the potential increase in violence and unrest in the camp along with heightened risks of human trafficking due to the recent announcement by the World Food Programme about the monthly cut in food ration for Rohingya in refugee camps in Bangladesh.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL MALAYSIA CONDEMNS THE DEPORTATION OF MORE MYANMAR NATIONALS, INCLUDING CHILDREN

On 23 February, Amnesty International Malaysia condemned the Malaysian government’s continued efforts to deport people from Myanmar, including children. According to Amnesty, the government deported 114 people from Myanmar, including children, despite the ongoing risk of return and further degradation of the human rights situation there. The forcible return took place despite information from court proceedings that the group included children and other people in vulnerable situations.  

HRW: ‘PROMINENT RELIGIOUS LEADER ON TRIAL’

On 20 February, Human Rights Watch called on Myanmar’s military junta to drop politically motivated charges under counterterrorism law against the Kachin Baptist leader Reverend Hkalam Samson and immediately release him. According to HRW, ‘the prosecution of a high-profile Kachin religious figure like Rev. Samson is a heavy-handed attempt to chill all dissent among ethnic minority leaders’.

BROUK: FOOD CUTS IN BANGLADESH WILL HAVE “DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES” FOR ROHINGYA REFUGEES

On 18 February, the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK called on the international community to prioritise funding to vulnerable Rohingya refugees in light of the UN’s plans to alarmingly cut food aid in camps in Bangladesh. According to BROUK, ‘these cuts will put close to one million Rohingya lives at risk. These refugees have survived genocide and are almost completely dependent on aid in the camps’.

FORTIFY RIGHTS: ‘THAILAND: END FORCED RETURNS OF MYANMAR REFUGEES, COOPERATE WITH OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION’

On 2 February, Fortify Rights released a short-film and called on the Thai Government to end refugee pushbacks and protect refugee rights, especially the forced return of refugee children to Myanmar. The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT) announced it would investigate the government’s treatment of refugees in response to evidence of potential violations shared by Fortify Rights.

BHRN WELCOMES SANCTIONS AGAINST THE MILITARY JUNTA

On 4 February, the Burma Human Rights Network welcomed the new sanctions imposed by the governments of Australia, Canada, UK and USA on members of the illegal Myanmar military junta, its businesses, and jet fuel suppliers to mark the second anniversary of the military’s attempted coup. It called on governments worldwide to urgently deny illegal junta weapons, funds, and legitimacy.

HRW: ‘POLITICAL PARTIES LAW SHACKLES OPPOSITION’

On 14 February, Human Rights Watch called on the ASEAN members, India, Japan, the UK, the US, and the EU to condemn the Political Party Registration Law, strengthen and enforce targeted sanctions against senior junta officials and military entities in Myanmar and ensure that they do not lend credibility to the junta’s attempt to legitimize military control through sham elections. The newly promulgated law prevents key members of the political opposition from running in upcoming elections.

HRW: ‘BALI PROCESS NEEDS TO END ROHINGYA DEATHS AT SEA’

On 9 February, Human Rights Watch called on States participating in the 8^th Ministerial Conference of the Bali Process to keep the dire situation facing Rohingya at sea at the top of the meeting's agenda. HRW demanded regional States respond to refugee boats in distress, coordinate search-and-rescue operations, take boats ashore to the nearest safe port, and provide humanitarian aid.

LAW: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TESTIFIED BEFORE THE INDONESIAN COURT

On 22 February, AJC member Antonia Mulvey testified before the Indonesian Constitutional Court in a petition that seeks to review a domestic law to allow for the Myanmar military to be investigated for human rights abuses against the Rohingya.

AJC SECRETARIAT ACTIVITIES

From 20-25 February, the AJC secretariat head Dr Priya Pillai presided over a people’s court alongwith Judge Zak Yacoob (Former Judge, South African Constitutional Court) and Stephen Rapp (Former United States Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues in the Office of Global Criminal Justice) in The Hague. The court heard testimonies and presented evidence concerning the crime of aggression in Ukraine. On 21 February, Sangeetha Yogendran joined the Asia Justice Coalition secretariat as the Co-Impact Program Manager.

AL JAZEERA: ‘EU IMPOSES NEW SANCTIONS ON MILITARY-RULED MYANMAR’

On 21 February, Al Jazeera reported that the European Union has imposed asset freezes and travel bans on 16 individuals and entities in military-ruled Myanmar including the energy minister, influential businessmen and high-ranking officers over grave violations of human rights inside the country.

UN EXPERTS APPEAL FOR IMMEDIATE FUNDING TO AVERT FOOD RATION CUTS FOR ROHINGYA REFUGEES

On 16 February, UN experts (Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food & Thomas Andrews, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar) warned about catastrophic consequences for Myanmar Rohingya refugees living in camps in Bangladesh if life-saving food aid is slashed, and issued an urgent plea for donations to the UN World Food Programme Rohingya Refugee Response.

REUTERS: ‘MYANMAR JUNTA TO LET 'LOYAL' CIVILIANS CARRY LICENSED ARMS’

On 12 February, Reuters reported that the Myanmar military ‘is set to allow civilians "loyal to the state" to apply for licences to carry firearms. The conditions included an age threshold of 18 years and a demonstrable need for a gun for security purposes, in addition to the loyalty requirement.

UN OCHA: OVER 1.2 MILLION INTERNALLY DISPLACED SINCE THE FEBRUARY 2021 COUP

On 2 February, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs released its 26^th Myanmar Humanitarian Update and observed that the number of displaced men, women, and children since the military coup is over 1.2 million. Myanmar remains above 1.2 million. Over 17.6 million people - nearly one-third of the population - are estimated to be in humanitarian need in 2023.

IIMM: ‘TWO MORE YEARS OF ATROCITIES IN MYANMAR’

On 1 February, Nicholas Koumjian (Head, the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar) presented his statement to mark the 2^nd coup anniversary in Myanmar. According to IIMM, there is credible evidence documenting the commission of an array of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, torture, unlawful imprisonment, and deportation or forcible transfer.