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UN rights forum slams systematic abuse in Myanmar
From the Norwegian Burma Committee, a member of the Human Rights House in Oslo, HRH has received the following article, originating from the French news agency AFP: The UN’s top human rights body sharply criticized “systematic” abuse by Myanmar’s military junta, calling on it to restore democracy and free all political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. (8-MAY-05)
Burmese army uses chemical weapons against the Karenni minority
Strong evidence has emerged of the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Burma Army against the Karenni people. A draft report from Christian Solidarity Wordlwide International President Dr Martin Panter presents evidence of chemical weapons use during an incident which is alleged to have happened near Burma’s north western border with Thailand on 15 February. (29-APR-05)
Srebrenica: A wound in European history – 10 years on
The massacres in Srebrenica constitute the first genocide in Europe to be recognised by an international legal mechanism since World War II. On 21 April, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee hosted a seminar on Srebrenica at the Norwegian Human Rights House. (26-APR-05)
PEN calls for Turkish Government Condemnation of Attacks on Writer
Throughout April, Orhan Pamuk, one of Turkey?s most internationally acclaimed authors, has suffered threats from extremists calling for his books to be seized from public libraries and, in some cases, burned. At the same time, Adolf Hitler?s ?Mein Kampf? is once again a best-seller in the Republic of Turkey. From International PEN, HRH has received the following appeal on Pamuk?s behalf. (25-APR-05)
Dalai Lama at the Norwegian Human Rights House
On 14 June, a press conference with His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be held at the Norwegian Human Rights House. Tibet’s spiritual and political leader has been invited to Norway by the Norwegian Tibet Committee and the Norwegian Parliament’s Tibet Committee. (21-APR-05)
Panchen Lama – Tibet’s stolen child
This year marks the 10th anniversary of China’s abduction and detention of the Panchen Lama, Tibet’s stolen child, who will turn 16 on 25 April. On May 14,1995, six-year-old Gedun Choeky Nyima was recognized by the Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet. Determined to control religion in Tibet, the Chinese authorities kidnapped this young boy and his family three days later. (20-APR-05)
Vanunu welcomed as the new City of Asylum writer in Kristiansand
The board of Norwegian PEN has nominated Israeli writer and nuclear physicist Mordechai Vanunu as new City of Asylum writer in Kristiansand, Norway. (19-APR-05)
Continuing large-scale religious freedom violations in Burma
Widespread religious freedom violations by the Burmese government continue, with Christians from the ethnic Karen, Karenni, Chin and Kachin nationalities and Muslim Rohingyas suffering particularly badly. It remains difficult to gather reliable information from inside Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar), but it is estimated that about 300 Buddhist monks and novices are in jail for protesting against the ruling military regime. (11-APR-05)
Norwegian Burma Committee launches email campaign
The Norwegian Burma Committee, working out of the Norwegian Human Rights House in Oslo, launched an email campaign this week to force Per-Kristian Foss, the Norwegian Minister of Finance, to address the controversial issue reported previously on this site, re. the state-owned Norwegian Petroleum Fund?s investment in the French Oil giant Total Oil, who in turn make big money while exploiting and violating the rights of Burmese civilians. (6-APR-05)