LATEST NEWS AND STATEMENTS

• Myanmar/Burma - Human Rights Watch report (22.04.13)

  We have taken note of the Human Rights Watch report, which accuses the Burmese authorities of having carried out a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingyas and reveals a number of disquieting facts. It is up to the Burmese authorities to shed full light on the communal violence that has been taking place in Rakhine State for a year now.

• Burma – Unrest in Meiktila (22.03.13)

  France is concerned by the violence that took place in the town of Meiktila which has resulted in the death of around 20 people. It extends its condolences to the people of Burma and to the bereaved. France urges the parties involved to demonstrate tolerance and restraint, and has confidence in the Burmese government to swiftly restore calm.

• Myanmar/ Burma – Train crash and earthquake (12.11.12)

  France extends its condolences to the Burmese authorities and people following the train crash that took place in the district of Shwebo, in the north of the country, and the tremors that hit the same region to the north of Mandalay.

• Myanmar/ Burma – Situation in Rakhine state (12.11.12)

  We support the Burmese government’s efforts to restore security and to bring those responsible to justice. We also encourage the Burmese government to ensure access by the humanitarian agencies to all those in difficulty in Rakhine state.

• Myanmar/ Burma - abolition of the censorship of media (20.08.12)

  We welcome this progress with respect to information and the freedom of expression, while noting that more work needs to be done in other areas: not all political prisoners have been released, hostilities have not ceased in Kachin State, and the humanitarian situation remains critical with respect to the Rohingyas in Rakhine State.

• Burma/Myanmar – Ethnic violence in Rakhine state (06.08.12)

  There are reports of troubling acts of violence against civilians by the security forces. We urge the Burmese authorities to protect all civilian populations without discrimination and to investigate these possible atrocities.

• Burma/ Myanmar – Release of 46 prisoners (03.07.12)

  France welcomes the release of 46 Burmese prisoners, including 23 prisoners of conscience, and welcomes this new sign of the willingness of the Burmese authorities to promote national reconciliation.

• Myanmar/Burma – Visit to France by Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi (26-29.06.12)

  On the occasion of this visit, the last stop in her first trip to Europe in nearly 25 years, France will pay tribute to this extraordinary woman’s battle for human rights and will emphasize its active support for the democratic transition process under way in Burma.

• Bangladesh -Myanmar/ Burma – Burmese refugees turned back at the Bangladeshi border (14.06.12)

  France also encourages the Bangladeshi authorities to cooperate with the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The action of the NGO’s which offer humanitarian assistance to the refugees fleeing the violence in Burma must not be impeded.

• Myanmar/ Burma – Lifting of restrictions on Burma’s full participation in the activities of the International Labor Organization (14.06.12)

  France welcomes the decision taken yesterday by the International Labor Conference to lift the restrictions on Burma’s full participation in its activities. These restrictions had been in force since 1999 due to the widespread use of forced labor.