As Aung San Suu Kyi reaches ten years in detention the United Nations celebrates its 60th anniversary. On the same day a new report highlights 14 years of empty words on Burma from the United Nations and world leaders
Protest to be held outside House of Commons
On Monday 24th October 2005 Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma’s democracy movement, will have spent a total of 10 years in detention. To coincide with this anniversary the Burma Campaign UK is publishing a report –Ten Years of Detention – Too Many Years of Empty Words – highlighting the failure of the United Nations to take any effective action against the regime in Burma, and calling for United Nations Security Council intervention.
In June this year, as Aung San Suu Kyi spent her 60th birthday under house arrest, world leaders issued statements of support and admiration, and called for her release. But as usual they failed to translate words into action, and the daily horror of life in Burma continued; the imprisonment and torture of political opponents, rape, forced labour, shooting of unarmed civilians, hunger and poverty.
Ten Years of Detention – Too Many Years of Empty Words – highlights the shameful record of the United Nations regarding Burma. Several bodies of the United Nations have issued countless resolutions and statements calling for reform in Burma, all of which have been ignored. A combined total of 27 resolutions by the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Commission have been ignored by the regime. The regime has even banned the UN special envoy and the human rights special rapporteur from entering the country. It seems no insult is too great for the UN to swallow.
“The time for empty words is over,” said Yvette Mahon, Director of the Burma Campaign UK. “The regime in Burma has snubbed the UN and is undermining its credibility. It is time for action. The Security Council must pass a binding resolution demanding that the regime restore democracy to Burma and release Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners.”
A recent report commissioned by Vaclav Havel and Desmond Tutu found that Burma does meet the criteria for UN Security Council intervention. The USA has backed calls for Burma to be taken to the Security Council. The British government has said it would also support Security Council action, but so far it has failed to throw its diplomatic weight behind the initiative.
“The record of the United Nations when it comes to Burma is pretty pathetic,” said Yvette Mahon. “There is an absence of both strategy and urgency. Its failure to achieve any change in Burma is a perfect case study for those who try to argue that the UN is just an expensive talking shop. As the UN celebrates its 60th anniversary, it must finally take effective action on Burma, and prove the critics wrong. We fear that unless the Security Council acts, Aung San Suu Kyi could spend the rest of her life under house arrest.”
Read the report here – Ten Years of Detention – Too Many Years of Empty Words
ABOUT AUNG SAN SUU KYI
Aung San Suu Kyi has been in and out of detention since 1989. She was held under house arrest from 1989-1995, and again from 2000-2002. She was again arrested in May 2003 after the Depayin massacre, during which up to 100 of her supporters were beaten to death by the regime’s militia. She is currently held under house arrest in Rangoon.
Fears for Aung San Suu Kyi’s safety have been growing since a government reshuffle in October 2004, in which hardliners seized control of key government posts. General Soe Win, the mastermind behind the 30th May 2003 massacre, has been promoted to the post of Prime Minister. Since then the military dictatorship has been intensifying its isolation of Aung San Suu Kyi. She is allowed no visitors, her phone line has been cut, post intercepted, and National League for Democracy volunteers providing security at her compound have been removed.
A full profile is available at:http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/aboutburma/aung_san_suu_kyi.htm
For more information contact Mark Farmaner, Burma Campaign UK, Media Manager, on 020 7324 4713.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Demonstration – Time for UN to act
Including speech by John Bercow MP – co-chair All-Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma
Monday 24th October
12.30-1.30pm opposite St Stephens Gate, House of Commons, London
Nearest Tube: Westminster