2 million people, mainly from ethnic minorities will be banned from voting – Lord Alton
The military continue to crush the hopes of Burma while Aung San Suu Kyi has squandered her reputation and a historic opportunity, says former Liberal Democrat MP Lord Alton. He quotes Burma Campaign UK’s briefing on Sunday’s election in Burma:
- Under Burma’s military drafted 2008 constitution, it is impossible for elections to be free and fair.
- Even within the constraints of the constitution, the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi has engaged in activities which will make this election less free and fair than the last one.
- This is an apartheid election, with most Rohingya banned from voting.
Activists say polling day on Sunday will be an “apartheid election” – Myanmar Now
Activists warn that mass disenfranchisement will deepen racial divides and fuel resentment among ethnic minorities, reports Myanmar Now. Burma Campaign UK said “Aung San Suu Kyi has engaged in activities which will make this election less free and fair than the last one.”
“The greatest shadow over the credibility of the election is the continued banning of Rohingya people being allowed to vote, and the astonishing silence of the international community over this issue,” BCUK added. “International donors, including the UK, ignored a UN recommendation to review support for the election if Rohingya were excluded, and provided support to the racist government body, the Union Election Commission.”
Statement on upcoming elections in Burma – APPG
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma, chaired by Rushanara Ali MP, has raised concerns about the credibility of the upcoming elections.
The group’s statement says “The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma is deeply concerned about the growing number of undemocratic practices in the run up to Burma’s general election being held on 8 November … We call on the British government to take direct action and stand up for the democratic rights of the people of Burma.”
A sham election may be the ‘nail in the coffin’ for democracy in Myanmar – World Politics Review
Burma is preparing to hold general elections this Sunday, reports World Politics Review: an occasion that might have marked a significant milestone in its ongoing transition from decades of military rule. Yet the consensus today is that Burma’s democratic transition has stalled—if it can even be said to be transitioning at all.
“I know that there are people trying to make excuses for the NLD [National League for Democracy], but the fact is that they do have this power, and they can exercise it, and they are choosing not to,” said Mark Farmaner, Burma Campaign UK’s Director. “And not only have they chosen not to, but we’ve seen the NLD government itself also using these repressive laws to harass, threaten, jail and arrest critics.” He added that the upcoming election “should be the final nail in the coffin of the narrative that there is a democratic transition going on.”
Shipping giant to stop using Myanmar’s military-owned port – the Irrawaddy
The world’s largest shipping company, Maersk, will cut ties with the military-owned ports in Burma this month, reports the Irrawaddy.
Maersk was placed on Burma Campaign UK’s Dirty List after its container ship used the military-owned TMT Ports in Yangon, which is managed by the British company, Portia Management Services. In July, Portia announced it would not renew its contract managing TMT Ports when it expires in 2021.
Mark Farmaner, director of BCUK, said Maersk’s decision is a “highly significant move”, increasing pressure on other shipping companies to do the same. Maersk has been taken off BCUK’s Dirty List and Portia will follow when its contract ends.
Maersk to stop using Myanmar military ports – Yahoo!sports
Global shipping giant Maersk will stop using Burmese military-owned ports after pressure from Burma Campaign UK to sever links with the military.
The Danish company’s decision is highly significant and will increase pressure on other shipping businesses to do the same, said Mark Farmaner, BCUK’s director.
“The campaigns to stop international companies funding human rights violations in Burma are gaining momentum and will keep growing,” he said. Maersk has now been removed from BCUK’s Dirty List of international companies with links to the armed forces.
Justice and the Rohingya people are the losers in Asia’s new cold war – the Observer
Belatedly responding to the latest upsurge in violence and the desperate plight of still-displaced Rohingya refugees, eight UN security council members, marshalled by Britain, called on Burma to comply with the International Court of Justice’s demands, implement an immediate ceasefire, allow humanitarian access and include Rohingya voters in November’s national elections. This was progress of sorts, in that the joint statement circumvented a Chinese veto.
But as Burma Campaign UK noted, there was a problem: “The statement won’t make a blind bit of difference. It will be like water off a duck’s back, just one more statement which won’t be followed by action.”
Aung San Suu Kyi suspended from Sakharov Prize – UCA News
Aung San Suu Kyi has been suspended from the Sakharov Prize Community by the European Parliament over her lack of action on the ill-treatment of Rohingya, reports the independent Catholic media service UCA News.
Suu Kyi was awarded the Sakharov Prize in 1990 for embodying the Burmese people’s fight for democracy.
Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, slammed the move as “a completely meaningless gesture.”
“The EU is giving hundreds of millions of euros in aid to Suu Kyi’s government, is training the military-controlled police which took part in genocide, and the EU refuses to implement the UN fact-finding mission’s recommendations,” Mark Farmaner said on Twitter.
“Dozens of companies in the EU are doing business with the military and helping to fund genocide, but the European Parliament thinks suspending Suu Kyi from this award is a priority.”
Vale Earth Fair festival held in Covid-free Guernsey – BBC
While most music festivals over the bank holiday weekend switched to online streams one had a sell-out crowd.
Guernsey has been Covid-19 free since 27 May and ended social distancing in June. It meant the Vale Earth Fair was able to continue to provide 12 hours of live music as it has done for 44 years. Due to pandemic border restrictions all the performers were from the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
Profits from the event will benefit Burma Campaign UK, Free Tibet, and Safer Guernsey.
Thank you for your support Vale Earth Fair!
Vale Earth Fair goes ahead – Good News Network
One of the longest-running music festivals went ahead over Bank Holiday weekend, owing to the island being coronavirus-free since the end of April.
With no visiting performers invited this year, the line-up featured 70 all-local acts, just like the early festivals did.
The all-volunteer collective eschews corporate sponsorship and gives all profits to charity. This year’s proceeds will benefit Burma Campaign UK, Free Tibet, and Safer Guernsey.
Thank you as ever, Vale Earth Fair!