<p>JAKARTA, 30&nbsp;April 2015 — Recent statements by Malaysia’s Foreign Minister recognizing the regional significance of the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar are a step in the right direction, but ASEAN leaders must take concrete action to address the growing crisis, said ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) this week.<br />&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since 10 March 2015, the Burmese government has detained 70 students and their supporters in Tharawaddy Prison. Out of the 127 students arrested and detained, 70 are still being held in detention. These arrests were part of a crackdown to quash the student protest march against the National Education Law that was passed on 30 September 2014. Out of the students arrested, 27 were released without charge and 30 students were released on bail.</p>

<p>Over the last week Burma, or Myanmar, has witnessed the re-emergence of some of the most sinister methods of handling public demonstrations in its modern history. The police and civilian attack mobs have violently broken up demonstrations of workers and students in the former capital, Rangoon (Yangon), and the town of Letpadan to its north.</p>

<p>Community representatives from Shan, Karenni, Karen and Mon States are handing a petition today to the Myanmar Ministry of Electric Power, and to the Chinese and Thai Embassies in Yangon, urging an immediate halt to dam projects on the Salween River, which are fuelling war and violating the rights of local peoples.&nbsp;</p>

<div>BANGKOK -- Southeast Asian lawmakers today called on Myanmar to scrap a package of discriminatory laws to be submitted for review by the parliament, saying they violate international human rights laws and threaten to destabilize the county in its transition to democracy.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“These laws are discriminatory in their very conception and should be scrapped,” said ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) Chairperson and Malaysian Member of Parliament Charles Santiago.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“Over the past three years under Myanmar’s military government we have </div>

<div>Burma Army operations against the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (a.k.a Shan State Army-North or SSA-N) in central Shan State since early October have caused widespread damage, loss of civilian lives, and further displacement of hundreds of villagers in Ke See township.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Between October 2-4, 2014, deploying a combined force of nine battalions with at least 2,000 troops, the Burma Army launched a renewed offensive against SSPP/SSA positions in Ke See. Hundreds of artillery shells (60, 81 and 120 mm) were fired, including at civilian targets. </div>

<div>October 9, 2014</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Dawei Development Association (DDA) calls on the Myanmar and Thai governments to refrain from reviving the Dawei Special Economic Zone (DSEZ) development project unless the problems associated with the project thus far are remedied and international best practices are in place going forward. The Prime Minister of Thailand, retired general, Prayuth Chan-ocha, is visiting Myanmar this week, as his first overseas visit since taking power earlier this year. </div>

<div>News about the visit to Myanmar of Gen. prayuth Chan-O-Cha, Thai Prime Minister and Head of the junta, on 9–10 October indicates that there will be talks between the Thai and Myanmar governments to revive the stalled Dawei Deep Seaport and Industrial Estate projects. Recent daily press reports refer to the economic advantages that could benefit Thailand, and predict the resumption of the project in November. </div>

<p>Myanmar last week played host to the gatherings of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as chair of the organization this year. So far, Myanmar has received mixed reviews from the international community on its performance of the chairmanship. Some criticized Myanmar for failing to seriously address the issue of South China Sea. Some congratulated Myanmar for its own political reforms that also saw a rapprochement between Nay Pyi Taw and Washington.</p>

<div>Concerns about the restrictions on the freedom of Thai journalists following the coup in Thailand:</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><img alt="" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5536/14098496737_0ebf46815c_o.jpg" /></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>[28 May 2014] 1. It is reported that the military authority in our neighbor Thailand is taking necessary measures to restore peace and stability after staging a coup on May 22.</div> <div>2. </div>

<p>Human security has been a relatively alien concept due to the overwhelming concentration on the security of nation-state. The making of the “security” discourse in Myanmar is arbitrary. It is arbitrary because it has been shaped and reshaped according to the changing power interests of the Myanmar elite. The state becomes equivalent to the nation. Hence, the security of the nation is equal the regime security.&nbsp;</p> <p></p>