Burma Campaign UK
Media release from the Shan Human Rights Foundation During attacks last week violating the ceasefire with the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N), the Burma Army shelled a Buddhist temple in central Shan State, displacing dozens of monks, and turned the temple into a military base. On June 23, after sending in reconnaissance planes, over 100 troops …
Statement by 33 organisations Burma Non-compliant in Implementing Burma-UN Joint Action Plan on the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers On June 27, 2012, after nearly five years of negotiation, the Burmese government signed a joint action plan with the UN to end the recruitment and use of children as soldiers in the Tatmadaw Kyi …
60 Kachin community organisations and Burma campaign groups worldwide in 21 countries will take part in a Global Day of Action today to mark the 2nd anniversary of military attacks by the Burmese government against the Kachin Independence Army and Kachin civilians breaking a 17- year ceasefire. It has been two years now since the …
Burma Campaign UK today welcomed a statement by Foreign Office Minister Baroness Warsi, that ‘independent investigative work’ is required ‘for an informed assessment as to whether ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity have been committed.’ However, words need to be turned into action or they will simply amount to yet more platitudes from the British …
Following reports that 23 prisoners, 19 of whom are political prisoners, are being released today, just hours before Thein Sein leaves for a trip to the USA where he is due to meet president Obama in the White House, Burma Campaign UK accused President Thein Sein of blatantly using political prisoner releases as PR tools. …
EU Abandons Burma’s Political Prisoners – Downgrades Human Rights European Union members have abandoned hundreds of political prisoners and downgraded human rights as a priority in Burma, following their decision to lift all sanctions on Burma except arms. The EU suspended sanctions on April 26th 2012, in recognition of changes that had taken place in …
Burma Campaign UK is deeply concerned that G8 Foreign Ministers meeting today appear to be prioritising trade opportunities with Burma, rather than ending rape and sexual violence committed by Burmese government forces. The Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) is top of the agenda for G8 Foreign Ministers. However, Burma is not one of the countries …
Burma Campaign UK welcomes the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution on Burma, passed by consensus on Thursday 21st March. The resolution highlighted serious human rights abuses which could violate international law, including ‘…arbitrary detention, forced displacement, land confiscations, rape and other forms of sexual violence, torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, as well …
British government receiving; ‘disturbing reports of the use of sexual violence by the military in Burma.’ On International Women’s Day, Burma Campaign UK is calling on members of the United Nations Human Rights Council to ensure that the Council continues to investigate serious human rights abuses in Burma, including sexual violence. There have been moves …
Members of the European Burma Network today called on Germany to come clean over whether it is working behind the scenes to have Burma downgraded as a priority for the United Nations Human Rights Council. The European Burma Network brings together advocacy organisations working for human rights and democracy in Burma. Discussions have been taking …
Media Release from Jubilee Debt Campaign UK Campaigners criticise ‘premature’ Burma debt cancellation $5.9 billion to be written-off and new loans to military dictatorship to begin. Western countries, in a body called the Paris Club, have agreed to cancel 50 per cent of the debt owed to them by Burma. The World Bank and Asian …
Statement by Members and Observers of the European Burma Network on the ongoing attacks by the Burma Army against the Kachin people We, the undersigned members and observers of the European Burma Network, condemn the ongoing attacks on the Kachin people and call on the international community to put pressure on President Thein Sein and …
We are movements and organizations calling on the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to add its voice and heed mounting international calls for an immediate stop to the continuing attacks on the Kachin people in Burma. The Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC) and the signatories below urges all ASEAN governments to end its …
Burma Campaign UK today called on the British government and United States to adopt a much more robust approach with the government of Burma in order to persuade President Thein Sein to halt Burmese Army attacks against the ethnic Kachin minority in Burma. Three civilians were killed, including one child, and four others were injured, …
Press Release from the Women’s League of Burma First use of airstrikes in twenty years brings fears of increased civilian fatalities and human rights abuses. Chiang Mai, Thailand – The international community should act immediately to ensure that Thein Sein’s government stops military attacks and human rights abuses in Kachin State, the Women’s League of …
Lord Alton of Liverpool has asked the British government whether it might be possible to arrest Thein Sein for human rights abuses if he goes ahead with a planned visit to the UK early next year. The UK applies universal jurisdiction for the use of torture, but only under certain limited conditions. Baroness Warsi, responding …
Burma Campaign UK is today calling on Hugo Swire MP, British Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for Burma, to pressure Burma’s military-backed government to agree to the formation of a joint domestic and international board, with the involvement of the UN, to investigate how many innocent civilians and political activists remain in Burma’s jails and …
As organisations that work to promote the rights of all people of Burma, including the Rohingya community, we express our deep concerns about the shortfall in funding for the humanitarian operation to assist people in Rakhine State who have been affected – directly or indirectly – by the June and post-June violence. Out of $32.5 …
More than one year on, Sumlut Roi Ja, an ethnic Kachin woman abducted by the Burmese Army, is still missing and President Thein Sein is still failing to take action to investigate and prosecute the soldiers who abducted her. Sumlut Roi Ja is a 28-year-old mother who was arrested by Burmese Army soldiers on …
Burma Campaign UK today called for the immediate release of Brang Shawng. Brang Shawng is a 25-year-old Kachin farmer who was arrested under suspicion of being a captain of Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and carrying out bombing operations near Myitkyina. While he was in interrogation he was tortured brutally and forced to confess to bombings …
Burma Campaign UK today repeated its call to Jeremy Browne MP, British Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for Burma, to pressure Burma’s military backed government to agree to the formation of a joint domestic and international board with the involvement of the UN, to investigate how many political prisoners remain in Burma’s jails, and secure …
UK Government Report: Human Rights Abuses Continue In Burma The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office published its Human Rights and Democracy report for 2011 on July 10th. The report highlights on-going serious human rights abuses in Burma, despite some welcome reforms, stating in its introduction: “2011 was marked by some unexpected and positive political developments …
Recent events in Rakhine (Arakan) State, Burma, have many causes which need to be addressed. On all sides, however, there is agreement that there needs to be clarification and proper implementation of citizenship laws. Speaking in Norway on 18th June 2012, Aung San Suu Kyi said: “If we were very clear as to who are …
Media Release From Kachin Women’s Association – Thailand Gang-rape in church highlights Burma Army impunity for sexual violence in Kachin conflict The gang-rape and prolonged torture of a woman in a church near the Kachin-China border town of Pang Wa in early May show the ongoing impunity for sexual violence enjoyed by the Burma Army. …