Under Siege in Kachin State, Burma

This report is released by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR). It reveals detailing human rights abuses committed by the Burmese Army in Kachin State, Burma. PHR’s investigation reveals that the much‐publicized incremental political changes in central Burma have not translated into improvements for the ethnic populations in the remote areas of Burma. During Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Burma in December, PHR calls on her to focus on abuses against ethnic minorities.

Key human rights findings of the report include:

• The Burmese army forced Kachin civilians to guide combat units and walk in front of army columns to trigger landmines.
• The Burmese army regularly pillaged food and supplies from civilians.
• The Burmese army fired automatic weapons directly into a civilian village, striking non‐military targets.

The report also provides the first humanitarian assessment of some of the internally displaced people living in areas of Kachin State that are not controlled by the Burmese government.

Related news

• Burma’s Resource Curse
• Burma’s by-elections: Still short of international standards
• Under Siege in Kachin State, Burma
• Crimes in Northern Burma
• Grabbing Land: Destructive Development in the Ta’ang Region
• Displacement and Poverty in South East Burma
• Still Poisoned
• An ILO Commission of Inquiry on Freedom of Association in Burma
• Lives of Chin Refugees in Delhi: Case Studies
• Burma’s Covered up War: Atrocities Against the Kachin People