Christian Solidarity Worldwide is set to release their new report, "Carrying the Cross: The military regime’s campaign of restriction, discrimination and persecution against Christians in Burma", on January 23rd. The report cites a document reportedly leaked either by the government or a government-backed group of Buddhist monks entitled, "Programme to destroy the Christian religion in Burma", and which states, "There shall be no home where the Christian religion is practised.......The Christian religion is very gentle – identify and utilise its weakness."   more »

Dr. Lian Hmung Sakhong, a prominent Chin community leader and academic, was awarded the Martin Luther King Prize for 2007. The Martin Luther King Prize was established by a coalition of Swedish peace groups in honor of the late civil rights activist in 2003. Dr. Lian Hmung Sakhong is the third recipient of the prize since its inception, and was presented the award in a ceremony on January 15 at the Swedish Parliament. In addition to the honor of winning, the prize brings with it US $25,000.   more »

World’s largest tiger reserve being ravaged by Burmese junta’s greed for gold

Valley of Darkness, a new report by undercover local researchers, exposes how Burma’s military junta is promoting extensive gold-mining in the Hugawng Valley Tiger Reserve in northern Kachin State, devastating not only the environment but also local communities.

The junta has expanded control of the valley, confiscating farmlands and homes to accommodate its military infrastructure, and selling off vast tracts as gold-mining concessions. The valley’s forests and waterways are now being ravaged by over 100 hydraulic and pit mines using mechanized pumps and dredges and dumping mercury-contaminated tailings. Thousands of desperate migrants from all over Burma are working in squalid mining communities throughout the once pristine valley, where drug addiction and HIV/AIDS have become rampant.

“Under the regime’s increased control, the rich resources of Hugawng valley have turned out to be a curse.” said Tsa Ji, one of the authors of the report. “Only the junta and a handful of businessmen are benefiting from the gold while the local people suffer the consequences.”   more »

The 88 Generation Students group kicked off their new campaign, 'Open Heart', on January 4th, the 59th anniversary of Burma's independence from Britian. The campaign will run for one month, and will involve sending out letters and envelopes to the people of Burma - a letter from the 88 Generation Students to Than Shwe, and a message to the people, encouraging them to write their own letters expressing their feelings and troubles and returning them to the activist group in the envelopes to be sent on to the junta.   more »