New policy needed on Myanmar military
Mizzima News from Myanmar reports on Burma Campaign UK’s new briefing paper on Burma’s military.
“With human rights violations by the Burmese military increasing to a level we haven’t seen for around a decade, it’s clear new strategies are needed,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “It’s time for a debate on ways pressure can be applied on the military to stop violating international law.”
Lords debate Burma’s treatment of Rohingya
In today’s House of Lords debate on the treatment of the Rohingya in Burma, Baroness Kinnock quoted Anna Roberts of the Burma Campaign UK, who called the report of the presidential commission of inquiry a “farce” and said “it is time for the UK to support the establishment of a genuinely independent UN Commission of Inquiry”.
The world mustn’t look away – Rushanara Ali
Rushanara Ali MP, Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Burma, writes on the the violent campaign against Rohingya Muslims and the urgent need for full humanitarian aid and access to Rakhine state.
Children killed – whole villages arrested – will you help?
The Burmese Army is committing horrific human rights abuses in Kachin and Shan States. We don’t live in a country where our children can be bombed while out playing, but this is happening in Burma.
Please send a message to the head of the Burmese Army and to Aung San Suu Kyi supporting local communities who are demanding an end to these attacks.
KWO message: Ongoing use of rape by Burmese Army
The Karen Women Organization add their voice to the 16 days of activism to stop violence against women.
In Burmese military operations in Arakan State over the past months, there have been consistent reports received of widespread, systematic sexual violence against Rohingya women by Burma Army troops.
Myanmar ‘shooting itself in the foot’ by banning its workers from Malaysia
Myanmar is “shooting itself in the foot” by banning workers from going to Malaysia, Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, told the Southeast Asia Globe. “It is the Burmese migrants and their families who will suffer most from this move,” he said, “and the Burmese economy which benefits from money sent back.”
The ban came after Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak denounced the reported human rights abuses taking place in Rakhine State. Mark Farmaner said Najib’s statements filled the vacuum left by a lack of international intervention in the situation in Myanmar. “It is a bizarre turnaround to see the West largely silent in the face of serious human rights violations in Myanmar, and instead a member of Asean is leading the international outcry,” he said.
Inside the closed Rakhine region – BBC News
The BBC has obtained footage from inside Myanmar’s Rakhine state, where allegations have emerged of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya community.
The Burmese military denies it but has banned independent journalists from investigating in the area.
Burma Campaign UK delivers Rohingya petition – Muslim News
Mark Farmaner, Burma Campaign UK’s Director, told the Muslim News: “The international community continues treating the Rohingya as expendable in their efforts to present the situation in Burma as one of a successful transition requiring just technical assistance.
“The human rights situation for the Rohingya is getting worse, not better, and it is time their approach matched that reality.”
Rohingya photo exhibition in the British Parliament
As Rohingya in Burma face yet another violent crackdown, an award-winning exhibition on the Rohingya is being held in the British Parliament this week. Today’s opening ceremony was followed by a panel discussion hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma.
Aung San Suu Kyi should act on Rohingya human rights
Aung San Suu Kyi should act on Rohingya human rights, Burma Campaign UK’s Director Mark Farmaner told French current affairs radio station RFI: “She has moral authority, she has the support of the international community, she could be allowing humanitarian assistance in, there is a whole range of things that she could be doing but isn’t”.