UK MPs call for change of policy on ‘backsliding’ Myanmar
Article in Mizzima:
UK MPs have called on the British government to reassess their relations with Myanmar, concerned about continued fighting in the ethnic states, the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, and the effective block on constitutional change.
Twelve MPs, led by Labour MP Ms Valerie Vaz, have called on the British government to support an international investigation into sexual violence in Myanmar and to fund women’s organisations which help survivors and document abuses, according to the report of an Early Day Motion tabled in the UK parliament on December 2.
“This Motion reflects how the mood of Parliament has changed,” Mr Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, told Mizzima on December 4. “There is now a much greater understanding that serious human rights abuses are continuing, and that the reform process is deeply flawed. The British government is also facing growing pressure from MPs over its policy of supporting President Thein Sein.”
UK MPs Group Urges Return of Burma Sanctions if Abuses Don’t Stop
Burma Campaign UK is quoted in the Irrawaddy:
“Anna Roberts, the executive director of Burma Campaign UK said, “the Foreign Affairs Committee has taken a much stronger stance on human rights in Burma than the British government. There is a growing recognition of the many problems with Burma’s reform process and of the huge scale of ongoing human rights abuses.”
End Military Impunity For Violence Against Women
Article by Zoya Phan of Burma Campaign UK.
“Despite some limited reforms taking place in Burma in the past four years, women in Burma continue to suffer and we continue to require international support. As a country with a strong commitment to ending sexual violence in conflict, Britain should take the lead in building global support for an international investigation into rape and sexual violence committed by the Burmese military.”
Sexual violence by Burmese army still widespread, says NGO
Zoya Phan, Campaigns Manager at Burma Campaign UK, is quoted in DVB:
“The London-based NGO’s Campaigns Manager, Zoya Phan, thinks that Britain should take the lead in such an investigation. The group’s press statement quoted her as saying, “As a country with a strong commitment to ending sexual violence in conflict, Britain should take the lead in building global support for an international investigation into rape and sexual violence committed by the Burmese military.”
Burma Campaign UK delivers 2,000 campaign postcards
Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Burma Campaign UK delivers 2,000 campaign postcards to the British Foreign Office calling on Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond to support the establishment of an international investigation into rape and sexual violence committed by the Burmese Army. The postcards were signed by supporters of Burma Campaign UK.
Celebrity Christmas Auction!
Burma Campaign UK is having an auction of special gifts donated by celebrities, including a signed Hagrid wand from Harry Potter, a signed photo of M from James Bond, and signed books by Jane Asher and Phillip Pullman. They’d make great Christmas presents!. Check them out.
President Obama, #justsaytheirname ‘Rohingya’
Burma Campaign UK is supporting the campaign by United To End Genocide to tell Obama to #justsaytheirname ‘Rohingya’ when he visits Burma next week. You can support the campaign here: http://endgenocide.org/actions/president-obama-say-rohingya/
Negotiations fail in second case against migrant activist Andy Hall
Mizzima news story including our picture from the London protest at Thai Embassy in support of migrant rights activist Andy Hall.
NGO calls for the immediate release of Bi Mon Te Nay journalists
Article in Mizzima about our campaign to free journalists at the Bi Mon Te Nay Journal.
“The imprisonment of the Bi Mon Te Nay’s journalists proves that the reform process is backsliding,” said Anna Roberts, executive director at Burma Campaign UK. “Journalists should have freedom to report without being constantly harassed and arrested and thrown into jail by Thein Sein’s government. Burma won’t be able to achieve genuine democracy without press freedom and free media.”
UK foreign minister ‘sticks head in the sand’ over Myanmar rights: NGO
Burma Campaign UK’s press release featured in Mizzima:
“The British Foreign Office has dropped human rights as a priority in Myanmar and instead now focuses on promoting trade, claims Burma Campaign UK.
Dubbing British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire an “ostrich”, the rights NGO said the minister ducked recent questions in the British Parliament about the growing number of political prisoners in Myanmar in a push “to win business deals” with the government, according to the group’s press release October 29.
During Foreign Office questions in Parliament October 28, Sir Bob Russell MP asked Mr Swire how many additional political prisoners have been arrested this year. Rather than admit that the number of political prisoners has more than doubled, with hundreds more having been arrested and awaiting trial, the rights groups says Mr Swire bizarrely started talking about the release of 3,000 petty criminals.
The group says Mr Swire was “sticking his head in the sand, trying not to see or talk about human rights problems” in Myanmar.“