Monday, December 3, 2012

Future Events

For information on Burmese Events in the UK please see:

http://burmeseeventsintheuk.wordpress.com
http://88newgenerationstudents-uk.blogspot.com/  88 New Generation Students UK (New Website)
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/news-and-reports/public-events/all-events Burma Campaign UK
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11780  Amnesty UK Burma Events
http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/country.asp?s=gi&urn=Burma Christian Solidarity Worldwide
http://www.sasanaramsiuk.org/eng/ Sasana Ramsi Vihara Trust (Burmese Buddhists monks in UK, see for community Burmese New Year events)
http://www.totaloutofburma.org


Monday December 3rd

Military Brutality at Letpadaung mine project protest

You are cordially invited to attend the protest to condemn the oppressive Burmese regime’s brutal crackdown on a peaceful protest against the Letpadaung mine project, which will be held on 3rd December 2012.

Just last week the Burmese government forcibly evicted local residents from villages in the vicinity of the Letpadaung mountain range and illegally confiscated land and lay down steps which have ensured the seeds for the destruction of the natural habitat of these mountainous areas, as a result of the ongoing mining project.

With growing worry regarding these changes to the local community and environment by the mining project, local farmers, human rights, later joined by Buddhist monks, voiced their concerns by means of a peaceful protest asking for the government to suspend the project.  The Thein Sein regime’s (lauded for their so called ongoing reform process) security forces responded to the peaceful protesters with  tear gas, smoke bombs, and fire, leaving a number of  protesters including Buddhist monks injured, severely burnt.

The Burmese government’s aggressive response to the peaceful expression of opinions included, directly targeting protesters with flare guns and chemical weapons. This is further evidence of the Burmese government’s oppressive crackdown on the basic human right, of freedom of expression. It is acts like this, which have always been the reason why, we the Burmese population have always doubted the true intentions of the government and tried the trust that we put in their so called democratic reform process.

We therefore call on the Burmese government to immediately

  1) Completely shut down the mining project
 
  2) Facilitate an independent investigation of the crackdown, by a team which includes international experts to provide justice for the innocent victims

  3) Ensure that urgent and appropriate steps be taken to end such horrific offenses against the people of Burma

It is crucial that we stand by our people at home and show our solidarity in the fight for our basic human rights.

In this regard, we would like to invite you to join hands with us, to call for human rights and justice for our people in Burma.

Date: Monday December 3rd
Time: 12:00 - 13:00
Myanmar/Burma Military Regime Embassy 19A, Charles St, London W1J 5DX.
Tube: Green Park | Map: http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=W1J5DX



Monday December 10th


International Human Rights Day

Dear brothers, sisters and friends of Burma,

You are cordially invited to attend the protest in front of the Burmese Embassy on 10th December 2012 to mark for the International Human Rights Day.

Across the globe, people mobilize to demand justice, dignity, equality, more participation to defend and protect the rights, enshrined in the Universal Declaration throughout the year. However, sadly, in our country, the most basic of globally recognized civil and political rights are not yet respected by the government. The continued detention of political prisoners and the numerous human rights violations on ethnic minorities, committed by the Burmese army, are ever escalating over time.

Even though the Thein Sein government enacted a few steps of limited political and economic reform after it came into power 2 years ago, all these serious issues of human rights violations has not been addressed as a matter of priority. Tomás Ojea Quintana, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, highlighted  in his statement issued on 5 August 2012, “Myanmar needs to tackle serious human rights challenges for democratic transition and national reconciliation to succeed.”

We are going to stage a silent protest to call on the Burmese government to;

 1)     Put an end to Human Rights abuses in all the ethnic’s areas in Burma;

 2)     Ensure genuine general amnesty and unconditionally release of all the remaining political prisoners in Burma;

3)     Stop attacking the Kachin Land and all the ethnic’s areas across Burma immediately;

4)     Hold immediate peace talk and seek durable political solution with all the ethnic groups;

 5)    Increase engagement with political parties and implement genuine national reconciliation

We would like to invite you to join hands with us, to strongly condemn the on-going systematic violations of human rights and long lost fundamental freedoms and our rights in every aspect.

Yours respectfully,

88 New Generation Students (UK)


Date: Friday December 10th
Time: 12:00 - 13:00
Myanmar/Burma Military Regime Embassy 19A, Charles St, London W1J 5DX.
Tube: Green Park | Map: http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=W1J5DX


http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

PREAMBLE

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Article 1.

    All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2.

    Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3.

    Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4.

    No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5.

    No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6.

    Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7.

    All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8.

    Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9.

    No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10.

    Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11.

    (1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
    (2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12.

    No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13.

    (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
    (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14.

    (1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
    (2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15.

    (1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
    (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16.

    (1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
    (2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
    (3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17.

    (1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
    (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18.

    Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19.

    Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20.

    (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
    (2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21.

    (1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
    (2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
    (3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22.

    Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23.

    (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
    (2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
    (3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
    (4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24.

    Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25.

    (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
    (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26.

    (1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
    (2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
    (3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27.

    (1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
    (2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28.

    Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29.

    (1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
    (2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
    (3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30.

    Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.




Check for any further events or changes to events:

http://burmeseeventsintheuk.wordpress.com
http://88newgenerationstudents-uk.blogspot.com/  88 New Generation Students UK (New Website)
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/news-and-reports/public-events/all-events Burma Campaign UK
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11780  Amnesty UK Burma Events
http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/country.asp?s=gi&urn=Burma Christian Solidarity Worldwide
http://www.sasanaramsiuk.org/eng/ Sasana Ramsi Vihara Trust (Burmese Buddhists monks in UK, see for community Burmese New Year events)



LINKS
(For a comprehensive set of Burma links please see the Burma Campaign UK website links page:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/burma/links/all-links/37 )

News on Burma (in English)
The Irrawaddy www.irrawaddy.org
Widely cited by International News media.
Mizzima News www.mizzima.com
Online newspaper which specialises in Burma related news and multimedia
Democratic Voice of Burma: www.dvb.no
Source of underground documentary video journalism in Burma. Norway based exiled media station. Broadcasts radio and TV into Burma
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre www.internal-displacement.org
See Myanmar section. IDMC keeps online conflict displacement info for UN.
Burmanet www.burmanet.org/news
Coverage of news and opinion on Burma from around the world
Karen News www.karennews.org
Everyday stories cover a range of crimes against humanity – extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, forced labor, child soldiers, forced displacement, human trafficking. Among the carnage, however, are stories of hope, love and dignity.
Chinland Guardian www.chinlandguardian.com
Chin journalist ethnic news service striving for "free, open and democratic society"
Shan Herald Agency for News www.shanland.org

Campaign Organisations
Burma Campaign UK www.burmacampaign.org.uk
For email petitions, news and events this is the leading Burma focused group for members of the public to subscribe to and support in the UK.
Alternative Asean Network on Burma www.altsean.org
SE Asia networked advocacy. Has lots of info explaining Burma’s election, economy and human rights abuses.
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) www.aappb.org
Provides food and medicine to prisoners. Main source of prisoner info.
EarthRights International www.earthrights.org
Documents and takes legal action against human rights and environmental abuses. Lead the case against Total and Chevron (Texaco) abuses in Burma.
Burma Partnership www.burmapartnership.org
A network of organizations throughout the Asia-Pacific region, advocating for and mobilizing a movement for democracy and human rights in Burma.
Amnesty International UK www.amnesty.org.uk
Campaigns for prisoners of conscience and often holds events about Burma.
Human Rights Watch www.hrw.org
Reports on Burma the human right situation in Burma
Federation of Trade Unions Burma www.ftub.org
Based outside Burma. Forced labour, child labour, migrant workers issues etc
Christian Solidarity Worldwide www.csw.org.uk
Visits refugee camps and lobbies for aid on both Thai and Bangladesh borders.
National League for Democracy(Burma) www.nldburma.org
News and views of Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD campaigning activities.
Burma's Lawyers' Council www.blc-burma.org
Opposing injustice, restoring justice


Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets (UK)

www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/burma.htm

Burmese Activist and Ethnic Human Rights
Ethnic Nationalities Council www.encburma.net
Fostering unity and cooperation between all ethnic nationalities in a transition to democracy
Kachin Development Networking Group www.kdng.org
Kachin Relief www.kachinrelief.org.uk
Charity run by Kachin exiles for Kachin refugee relief
Karen National Union www.karennationalunion.net
The leading political organisation representing the Karen people, founded in 1947.
Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) www.bro-uk.org
Arakan Rohingya National Organisation www.rohingya.org
88 New Generation Students UK www.88newgenerationstudents-uk.blogspot.com
Burmese student activists
Burmese Democracy Movement Association bdmauk.org.uk
Burmese Activists. Started The Little Burmese Tea Shop at Glastonbury.
www.thelittleburmeseteashop.wordpress.com
Burma Democratic Concern www.bdcburma.org
Campaigning to restore democracy, human rights and rule of law in Burma
National League for Democracy Liberated Area(UK) www.nldlauk.org
Exile organization for supporting the NLD
Burmese Muslim Association www.b-m-a.org
Restless Beings  www.restlessbeings.org/
Raising awareness of human rights violations of silenced communities, recently the Rohingya in
Burma and Bangladesh


Environmental Activist
Burma Rivers Network www.burmariversnetwork.org
Protecting the environment and rights of communities
Arakan Rivers Network www.arakanrivers.net
Salween watch www.salweenwatch.org
Preventing the building of harmful hydroelectric power dams on the Salween River.


Charity
Thailand Burma Border Consortium www.tbbc.org
UK registered charity, 12 international NGO’s supporting refugees on Thai Burma border. IDP Maps on IDMC website are from TBBC.
Free Burma Rangers www.freeburmarangers.org
Sends medical/aid teams to villages under attack. Also documents abuses.
The Back Pack Health Worker Team www.backpackteam.org
Deeply committed to bringing primary health services to the remote and vulnerable populations inside Burma.
Mae Tao Clinic www.maetaoclinic.org
Health services for displaced Burmese populations along the Thailand-Burma border

Tourism
How to travel responsibly in Burma -
www.ecoburma.com/choices/responsible-travel-to-burma-101
Concerns over Tour Operators
www.tourismconcern.org.uk/uploads/Campaigns/How-tour-operators-are-supporting-Burma-regime.pdf
National League for Democracy statement on Tourism
www.nldburma.org/media-press-release/78-press-release/316-nld-statement-no-100511-released-on-20th-may-2011-regarding-tourism-in-burma-.pdf


Network for Human Rights Documentation - Burma
(www.nd-burma.org )
ND-Burma formed in 2003 in order to provide a way for Burma human rights organizations to collaborate on the human rights documentation process. The 12 ND-Burma member organizations seek to collectively use the truth of what communities in Burma have endured to challenge the regime’s power through present-day advocacy as well as prepare for justice and accountability measures in a potential transition. ND-Burma conducts fieldwork trainings; coordinates members’ input into a common database using Martus, an open-source software (www.martus.org ) developed by Benetech; and engages in joint-advocacy campaigns. When possible, ND-Burma also collaborates with other human rights organizations in all aspects of its work.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Human Rights Abuses in Burma in Past Year

To document conflict and human rights abuses since March 2011 when Thein Sein took power. This by no means represents all the cases that have happened, but just those incidences made public and in English.

Interactive Burma Crisis Map:
With over 750 Reports of Human Rights Abuses and Conflict in the past year:

https://conflictsinburma.crowdmap.com

The reports with links to news articles:
https://conflictsinburma.crowdmap.com/reports

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Broken Ethics: The Norwegian Government’s Investments in Oil and Gas Companies Operating in Burma

The Government of Norway is complicit in natural-resource related human rights abuses in Burma, according to an explosive new report released today by EarthRights International (ERI).

The Norwegian Pension Fund-Global (Fund) has USD $4.7 billion invested in 15 oil and gas companies from eight countries operating in Burma. The report finds these companies complicit in abuses such as forced labor, killings, and land confiscation in Burma, putting Norway in violation of its own Ethical Guidelines for responsible investment. The Norwegian Fund is the world’s second largest sovereign wealth fund.

Broken Ethics: The Norwegian Government’s Investments in Oil and Gas Companies Operating in Burma (Myanmar)

Press Release:
http://www.earthrights.org/campaigns/norway-complicit-human-rights-abuses-burma

Excerpts:


"In 2005, the Norwegian Council on Ethics took up one of its first assessments of a company in the Fund’s investment portfolio when it scrutinized the French energy firm Total and the human rights impacts of the Yadana pipeline project in Burma. The Council concluded that Total had likely been complicit in the extensive use of forced labor connected to government-
provided security services and infrastructure construction for the Yadana project, as well as the forced relocation and deportation of villagers, and other violence perpetrated by the military."

...

In late 2008, a villager from Michauglaung explained how he was forced by the Burmese Army to provide security in his village along the Yadana and Yetagun pipelines:
We also have to do nighttime security – one night for three hours, once every two weeks. There are two groups – one in the beginning of the village, the other at the end of the village. If you fall asleep you have to provide [approximately 3 kilograms] of chicken [to the Burmese Army]. Sometimes they beat you up, and [then] you have to do one day of forced labor.

In 2010, the current ILO Liaison Officer in Rangoon Steve Marshall confirmed in writing to EarthRights International that forced labor has continued in the Yadana pipeline area.

As of June 2010, Total had yet to facilitate any complaints of forced labor to the ILO.


Total mislead investors:

The company went so far as to claim that the International Labour Organization (ILO) had certified that it had eradicated forced labor in its project area. From 2003 to 2009, on its website, Total claimed that “according to the ILO, the only region in the country in which forced labor has ceased is the area in which the Yadana gas pipeline was built.”

In fact, forced labor continues in the Yadana pipeline area, as described in detail in the sections above and in numerous EarthRights International reports. Moreover, the ILO has confirmed that it never stated that forced labor had ceased in the pipeline area and that this claim by Total is untrue. As exposed in the 2009 report Getting It Wrong, a senior and former ILO representative in Burma disavowed Total’s claims and noted that the statement that was attributed to the ILO was false and is “not right to say.”

Only in 2009, after EarthRights International exposed the untruth of Total’s statements, did Total quietly withdraw this misleading claim from their website. In 2010, the current ILO Liaison Officer in Rangoon Steve Marshall confirmed in writing to EarthRights International that forced labor has continued in the Yadana pipeline area

Total’s campaign to demonstrate the "benefits":

The Burmese Army has also used forced labor to maintain and repair local roads necessary for pipeline operations. These roads, ironically, have featured prominently in Total’s campaign to demonstrate the benefits brought by their presence. The primary benefit of the roads, however, appear to accrue to the pipeline companies and their personnel. Local people are not compensated for their road maintenance labor, and are then restricted from certain roads because of the potential damage caused by their bullock carts – most villagers do not own other means of transport.

According to previous accounts from Zinba Village published by EarthRights International, it appears that the forced maintenance began after complaints from foreign oil company workers about damage to the roads.

...

Testimonies from the pipeline area continue to show that the companies work closely with and aid the local Burmese Army battalions, which are in turn committing systematic human rights abuses against local villagers. A Burmese civilian working as a security guard for Total in 2010 reported to EarthRights International that the oil companies’ private security detail meets “almost every day” with the local Burmese military commander to “talk about the security issue” around the pipeline. The guard added that, “sometimes the army will ask for and use the company trucks to transport their troops or material when they need it, if the army does not have enough trucks.”

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Burma's 2010 Elections

Not Free, Not Fair, Not Inclusive

Youtube video explaining elections:




Burma’s 2008 Constitution:

  • The military is above the law & military coups are legalized
  • Federalism is denied. The military has control over ethnic states.
  • The military occupies 25% of the seats in Parliament.
  • The military controls 3 key Ministries :
  1. defence (control over their budget and military justice)
  2. home affairs (domestic repression)
  3. border affairs (cross-border trade, access to illicit rackets such as drugs, logging and smuggling, and license to conduct ongoing offensives against ethnic minorities)
  • The military has effective veto power over constitutional amendments
  • The National Defence and Security Council further entrenches the military
  • Basic human rights are still threatened
  • Political activists are barred from office
  • The Presidency favours the military
  • Aung San Suu Kyi is barred from Presidency even if she is freed (under a clause denying spouses or children as foreign citizens).

2010 Election Laws
  • Excludes Buddhist monks, nuns and members of other religious orders.
  • Forbids those associated with armed opposition ethnic groups from taking part in elections. (Junta has been threatening ethnic ceasefire groups).
  • Excludes those convicted of a crime and serving a sentence from being a member of a political party (Aung San Suu Kyi and many other political prisoners would have to be expelled from their NLD party for it to be allowed to stand)

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Aung San Suu Kyi's sham trial verdict

As expected the corrupt regime is keeping Aung San Suu Kyi detained till after their rigged 2010 elections. Burma is the only country in the world with a detained Nobel Peace Prize winner, but there are also over 2,100 heroic political prisoners in Burma.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial has provoked a global outcry. World leaders, including Prime Minster Gordon Brown, President Obama and the UN Secretary General have all condemned the actions of the Burmese regime. Now we need to turn those words into real pressure. We are calling for a global arms embargo against Burma.

Please take action now, go to
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/arms-embargo

Also please sign the Avaaz.org petition for the United Nations Security Council to create a Commission of Inquiry to investigate and hold the Burmese regime to account for crimes against humanity.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/jail_the_generals/

The regime is directly defying the United Nations Security Council. 20 years of gentle UN diplomacy, including a visit earlier this month by the UN Secretary General himself, have failed to achieve any breakthrough. It is time the generals faced consequences for their actions, a global arms embargo should be imposed immediately.

Take Action Now

Please take action for a Global Arms Embargo, go to:

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/arms-embargo

Please take action for investigating the regime's crimes against humanity

http://www.avaaz.org/en/jail_the_generals/


The main website for Burma's Political Prisoners:
http://www.fbppn.net/ - the campaign site
http://www.aappb.org/ - most of the news of political prisoners comes from APPB

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Burma Protest over Total Oil at French Embassy






From Indymedia

Burmese democracy activists protest at the French Embassy about French Total Oil's collaboration with the brutal military junta as heroic democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi's show trial continues in Burma. The Nobel Peace Prize winner has previously condemned Total as "the biggest supporter of the military regime in Burma". French Total Oil funds the evil military regime with approximately 500 million dollars a year from its operation of the Yadana gas pipeline, that is used by the corrupt generals to slaughter ethnic minorities, students, monks and anyone who speaks out for human rights and justice in Burma.

About 30 Burmese Democracy activists organised a demonstration at the French Embassy against Total Oil at short notice on 22nd May, following renewed discussion in Europe concerning Total's notorious investment in Burma. The police were called as they had not been informed of the demonstration, but it was just intended to peacefully express Aung San Suu Kyi's Burmese democracy supporters wish for Total Oil to be included in any further extension of European sanctions and did not last long, as it followed a previous demonstration at the Burma Embassy.

This week France admitted that Total was the sole major European investor in Burma and that sanctions involving Total would be the only serious economic lever Europe had on the regime.

Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy party, won the 1990 elections with 82% of the vote, but the corrupt military would not honour their own elections. She has spent 13 of the last 18 years in detention. The United Nations has already said her detention is illegal by both international and the junta's own Burmese law. Her current term was due to expire on May 27th, but the cowardly junta with 400,000 soldiers is so afraid of one woman that they will do anything to keep her imprisoned ahead of their fake 2010 elections. They have already written a constitution that ensures their military rule continues and bars Aung San Suu Kyi from even participating.

There have been many statements of support for Aung San Suu Kyi by world leaders following the junta's latest stunt to imprison her and keep her from her Burmese people. However it is the world leaders themselves that are on trial, as their fine statements are put to the test. Will they do anything of consequence to help Aung San Suu Kyi and her people ?

Europe previously agreed not to include oil and gas in sanctions, so that sanctions could be escalated if needed. If Aung San Suu Kyi is further imprisoned as most expect, then Europe's bluff will have been called.


http://www.france24.com/en/20090520-french-oil-firm-would-be-hurt-myanmar-sanctions-minister
"If Europe imposes new sanctions on Myanmar's military regime they would hit the French energy giant Total's operations in the country and have far reaching consequences, France said Wednesday.

Speaking as EU countries mulled action against the junta over its treatment of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Total was the sole major European investor in the country.

"The only serious economic lever would obviously be Total," Kouchner told members of the French parliament"

HELP AUNG SAN SUU KYI - TAKE ACTION NOW
The United Nations and ASEAN must dispatch envoys to Burma to demand the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all Burma’s political prisoners.

Please go to this page where you can email the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon and ASEAN leaders to urge them to send envoys immediately.
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/ASSK_action.html (if unavailable please try Avaaz:)
http://www.avaaz.org/en/free_aung_san_suu_kyi/96.php/?CLICK_TF_TRACK

As you know Burma’s generals will use any excuse to keep Aung San Suu Kyi detained. If strong action isn’t taken, Aung San Suu Kyi could face the rest of her life in jail.

Please take action now. Aung San Suu Kyi could now spend the rest of her life in jail. http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/ASSK_action.html

Saturday, May 16, 2009

15th May Protest at Aung San Suu Kyi's Arrest






From Indymedia


On Friday 15th May, Burmese demonstrated over at the military regime's embassy in London and at the Foreign Office in Kings Charles Street, at Aung San Suu Kyi arrest and detention at the notorious Insein prison. There will be a larger protest on Monday 18th May.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been under detention for 13 of the last 18 years, but the junta has been desperate to keep her detained ahead of the sham 2010 elections in which she is already barred from standing. The UN had already declared her detention illegal under both international and Burma's law, but the dictatorship is so afraid of her they are using the ridiculous excuse of an unwanted intruder in her house that refused to leave, to accuse her of breaking their ridiculous detention law.

Aung San Suu Kyi National League for Democracy party won 82% of the vote in the 1990 elections, but the corrupt generals did not honour the result of their own election. As they have no honour, it comes as no suprise that they will use any pathetic excuse to keep her detained.

On Monday, Aung San Suu Kyi faces trial at the notorious Insein prison, but it is the UN, ASEAN and world leaders that will be on trial. Words are not enough, they must take real actions to ensure that Aung San Suu Kyi is released.

This year ASEAN hailed the creation of a regional human rights body as a historic first step toward confronting abuses in the region. ASEAN should get to work helping to free Nobel Peace prize winning Aung San Suu Kyi and more than 2100 fellow political prisoners in Burma.

HELP AUNG SAN SUU KYI - TAKE ACTION NOW
The United Nations and ASEAN must dispatch envoys to Burma to demand the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all Burma’s political prisoners

Please go to this page where you can email the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon and ASEAN leaders to urge them to send envoys immediately.

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/ASSK_action.html


Find out more about Aung San Suu Kyi here: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/burma/campaigns/aung-san-suu-kyi/

More photo's of the May 15th event on Flickr at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/toastyoneuk/sets/72157618291888710/

Friday, March 20, 2009

21st Anniversary of Burma Human Rights Day

Protest held at Burma Embassy 13th March 2009

Launch of Free Burma's Political Prisoners Now - Take Action!





Friday 13th March was the 21st Anniversary of the beginning of the 1988 Student Uprising. Burma's Human Rights Day is in memory of Ko Phone Maw and all those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for Burma's freedom. Ko Phone Maw was the first student murdered by the Burmese junta on March 13th 1988 at a peaceful demonstration at Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT). It was the start of the 1988 democracy protests in which thousands of demonstrators were later murdered.

On this day a new signature campaign, Free Burma's Political Prisoners Now was launched globally, aiming to reach 888,888 signatures before 24 May 2009, the legal date that Burma's democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi should be released from house arrest. The petition calls on the UN Secretary Ban Ki-Moon General Ban Ki-moon to make it his personal priority to secure the release of all political prisoners in Burma, as the essential first step towards democracy in the country.

Please sign the petition now:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/fbppn.htm

The target of 888,888 signatures symbolises 8.8.88, the day the junta massacred some 3,000 people who courageously protested in Burma's largest democracy uprising.

Political Prisoners In Burma ­ Facts:

  • There are over 2,100 political prisoners in Burma.
  • They are innocent: These prisoners have committed no crime. They have been imprisoned for peacefully calling for democracy and freedom in Burma.
  • They are subjected to horrific torture: Once in prison, democracy activists face horrific torture, including electric shocks, rape, iron rods rubbed on their shins until the flesh rubs off, severe beatings and solitary confinement.
  • They endure terrible suffering: Many prisoners are kept in their cells 24hours a day, given inadequate food and are in poor health. However, the regime appears to be systematically denying medical treatment to political prisoners.
  • These are brave men and women that are at the forefront of the fight for freedom and democracy in Burma.

They need your help. Sign the petition now:

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/fbppn.htm

For Avaaz memebers there also a petition available on their site:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/free_burma_political_prisoners/

The Global Website for the Free Burma's Political Prisoners Now Campaign is at:
http://www.fbppn.net/
Sign the petition to free Burma's prisoners of conscience today!
http://www.fbppn.net/?page_id=5
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Burmas-Political-Prisoners-Now/72207914501