Intensified pressure is needed to ensure that the incoming National League for Democracy... (NLD) government prioritizes reforms that will bring institutional behavior, policies and legislation into line with international human rights standards. ... Post-election developments on the ground regarding discrimination and impunity fuel concerns generated by a pre-election survey, which found a disturbing lack of commitment by political parties to prioritize human rights issues consistently raised by the UN Human Rights Council. ... Despite the 22 January 2016 Presidential amnesty releasing 52 political prisoners, there are still 84 political prisoners in Burma/Myanmar and 408 people facing political charges. Two people were jailed for satirical Facebook posts in December and January, and five men were detained for printing a calendar that acknowledged the Rohingya as an ethnic group in Burma in November. ... In December 2015 , the outgoing Parliament approved the Supplementary Budget Bill, creating a K3.9 trillion (US$3.17 billion) deficit for the incoming government. The Bill granted the military an additional K417.28 billion (US$338.75 million), bringing its total 2015 - 2016 budget to K2.88 trillion (US$2.34 billion), or 12.2% of the national budget. ... The outgoing Parliament approved the Former President?s Security Bill, granting President Thein Sein immunity from prosecution for any crimes committed while in office. Other moves were made to strengthen the military?s power but were defeated or deferred. ... The Tatmadaw continued to target civilians while intensifying hostilities in some conflict zones, and a new armed group has emerged while a dormant one has regrouped. The Union Peace Conference agreed to include 30% women in the peace process, but made no commitment to addressing gender-based violations ? including sexual violence ? in conflict zones. ... In January, it was disclosed that severe acute child malnutrition had spiked in Rohingya- majority northern Arakan/Rakhine State. ... The extremist Organization for the Protection of Race and Religion (Ma Ba Tha) continued to incite hatred against Muslims, and warned the NLD not to "tamper" with the four discriminatory Protection of Race and Religion laws... . OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS.