Foreword

Distinguished Committee Members,

As Ambassador of Switzerland to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar I would like to commend the efforts that your organisation underwent to establish the Truth and Justice Commission (TJC) and to allow it to pursue its work with the most independence possible.

Acknowledgement

The journey of the Truth and Justice Committee has been a long and difficult one. Looking back over the past three years the Committee is deeply honored to extend its appreciation to the following.

Chapter 1: Overview of the work of the Truth and Justice Committee

 Overview of the work of the Truth and Justice Committee

The Truth and Justice Committee of the ABSDF (TJC) was formed on January 8, 2012 to carry out an inquiry into the incidents of 1991-92 in the ABSDF-Northern Camp.

Chapter 2 - Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Thousands of students involved in the 1988 pro-democracy movement in Burma left for ethnic-controlled areas when the military staged a coup on September 18, 1988. On November 1, 1988, they formed the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) in the Karen National Union (KNU)-controlled area called Kawmura.

Chapter 3 - Context

Context

A nationwide uprising calling for the restoration of democracy and human rights in Burma was launched on August 8, 1988. As in other parts of the country, protests were organized in cities and towns in Kachin State and the Sagaing Division of Upper Burma. Local students who studied at universities in Rangoon and Mandalay were the driving force behind most of the pro-democracy protests in Moe Nyin, Moe Kaung, Bamaw, and Myitkyina in Kachin State; and Wuntho and Tha Kha in Sagaing Division.

Chapter 4 - Human Rights Violations

This chapter illustrates the human rights violations that took place in the ABSDF – Northern during the period of 1991-1992.

Chapter 4 - Human Rights Violations - Torture

During the course of its work, the Truth and Justice Committee investigated allegations of torture at the ABSDF-Northern Camp. The Committee drew on international human rights law to determine whether or not torture took place.