Christians around Burma say they are no better off under the democratically elected government headed by Aung San Suu Kyi, despite promises made in the lead-up to the historic 2015 general election to protect the nation's’ four major faiths.

Overcrowding at penitentiaries will not allow for the closure of the country’s notorious prison labour camps any time soon, Deputy Home Affairs Minister Major General Aung Soe told Lower House lawmakers at Wednesday’s parliamentary session.

Prominent British rights activist Andy Hall leaves Thailand, saying he fears for his safety amid legal problems and growing harassment from companies.

The protestors issued a list of six points, including a demand to permit day-labourers forage freely through mounds of soil dumped by mining companies.

The girl, who was smuggled into Thailand at the age of 11 and forced to work at various jobs without pay, was rescued last week after five years as a captive of a fellow Burmese national.

Some 20,000 convicts toil in prison labour camps across the country, where they face abuse, exploitation and forced labour, a Myanmar Now investigation finds.