Defying Myanmar’s Military: Daily Brief

Protesters in Myanmar continue to defy the country's military; court in Germany to render verdict against two former Syrian intelligence officials; Sweden to investigate illegal adoptions; new German supply chain law proposal doesn’t go far enough; Yemeni journalist detained and tortured; attacks against civilians spreading terror in Afghanistan; opaque trial against military police in Uganda; Tunisian security forces target LGBT activists; charges against Philippine Senator should be dropped; and Rohingya refugees adrift in Adaman Sea.

Get the Daily Brief by email.

Protesters in Myanmar continue to defy the military’s show of force. Meanwhile, G7 foreign ministers have condemned the violence used by Myanmar forces against peaceful protests.

court in Germany is set to hand down its first verdict in a historic trial of two former Syrian intelligence officials for atrocities committed during Syria’s war.

Following a Dutch investigation into illegal adoptions, Sweden’s agency responsible for adoptions has called for a similar inquiry in Sweden, which has the highest number of adopted children per capita in the world.

The German government has put forward a proposal for a supply chain law. But if this law is to prevent the worst abuses in global supply chains, companies need to systematically assess and address risks with suppliers further down the chain.

Rights groups are calling for the release of jailed Yemeni journalist Adel al-Hasani who has been arbitrarily detained and tortured by United Arab Emirates (UAE)-backed security forces, apparently for doing his job. 

With Afghan peace talks making little progress, attacks targeting civilians are further undermining a future settlement. 

Seven members of Uganda’s military police have been given a “severe reprimand” and sentenced to two months in prison after the beatings of ten journalists. While an important step, opaque trials are no substitute for accountability and security sector reform.

Tunisian security forces have repeatedly targeted lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) activists at protests, a new Human Rights Watch report finds.

Tomorrow marks four years in police detention for Philippine Senator and former chair of the country’s Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, Leila de Lima. Prior to her arrest, de Lima had initiated a public inquiry into the “drug war” killings that started after President Rodrigo Duterte took office in June 2016. 

And lastly, the United Nations refugee agency has called for the immediate rescue of a group of Rohingya refugees adrift in their boat in the Andaman Sea without food or water.