Burma Campaign UK
Burma Campaign UK today welcomed what will amount to a doubling of UK aid to Burma. News of the increase was reported by The Independent today. Burma Campaign UK has been lobbying the British government to continue increasing aid to Burma, which was a commitment of the previous Labour government, and which had been supported …
Media Release from Brighton Festival. We are delighted to announce the courageous leader, human rights advocate and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as Guest Director of Brighton Festival 2011. Aung San Suu Kyi has fought passionately for over two decades for democracy and human rights in Burma and taken to the heart of …
38 organisations in 18 countries are taking part in a global day of action in support of 34 resistance fighters from Burma who are currently being held in an Indian jail. The 34 are threatened with deportation back to Burma, where they would very likely face arrest, torture and imprisonment. The thirty-four were arrested 13 …
Burma’s dictatorship has rejected 16 separate proposals made at the United Nations Human Rights Council calling on the dictatorship to respect international law and investigate breaches of international law. The recommendations were made by members of the Human Rights Council as part of the Universal Periodic Review into human rights in Burma, which takes place …
Burma Campaign UK today welcomed steps taken by the British government to highlight restrictions on freedom of speech and scrutiny in Burma’s new Parliament. In response to a question in the British Parliament, Jeremy Browne MP, Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for Burma, stated: “we have raised our concerns over the restrictive and undemocratic nature …
NLD sets release of all political prisoners as a critical benchmark before lifting sanctions Burma Campaign UK today called on members of the European Union to maintain targeted sanctions on Burma, following the release of a policy statement on sanctions by the National League for Democracy (NLD). The European Union has a ‘Common Decision’ on …
National League for Democracy 97/B, West Shwegondine Road, Bahan Township, Rangoon Sanctions on Burma (A review by the National League for Democracy, 8 February 2011) In recent months sanctions have repeatedly featured in discussions over the kind of policies that would best encourage positive change in Burma. Are current administrative policies and practices conducive to …
As Burma’s new Parliament convenes for the first time, Burma Campaign UK today called on the international community not to be fooled by cosmetic changes by Burma’s dictatorship. “This Parliament is packed with soldiers, ex-soldiers, pro-regime parties, corrupt businessmen and stooges,” said Zoya Phan, Campaigns Manager at Burma Campaign UK. “The tiny number of genuine …
Media Release From Burma Justice Committee As Burma’s new Parliament convenes for its first session, today sees the publication of a judgment from a United Nations court in which the court declared that in successive cases before it, the state of Burma had breached its obligations in international law and where citizens had been denied …
Statement from Burma Campaign UK Burma Campaign UK sends its condolences to the family of Khun Hte Bu Peh, Chairman of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), who passed away on the afternoon of the 27th January 2011. Khun Hte Bu Peh led the KNPP with wisdom and determination during difficult and challenging times for …
Burma Campaign UK today publishes a new briefing detailing international support for a UN Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma. 13 countries have so far declared their support for a UN Inquiry. A UN Inquiry is also supported by 15 Nobel Laureates, The Elders, the International Trade Union Confederation, …
The United Nations General Assembly has passed its 20th resolution on Burma, issuing what could be interpreted as a final warning regarding an investigation into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma. The UN General Assembly first called on the dictatorship in Burma to respect the Geneva Conventions in 1992. In total, General …
On the same day UN Burma envoy Vijay Nambiar visited Rangoon, the Burmese Army fired mortar bombs at a civilian village in Karen State, breaking international law. Thousands of ethnic Karen have fled a new Burmese Army military offensive in Karen State, along the Thailand Burma border, in the past two weeks. The fighting began …
There will be joy round the world at the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the world’s most renowned and courageous prisoner of conscience. Her release proves that no injustice can last forever, and while Burma’s junta can continue its policy of repression it has never been able to wholly silence her voice. Despite enduring …
Burma Campaign UK today welcomed the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, but warned that the release should not be interpreted as a sign that democratic reform is on the way. Burma Campaign UK also called for the immediate release of 2,202 political prisoners who remain in detention. “The release of Aung San Suu Kyi …
Burma Campaign UK has received reports of violent intimidation, beatings and arrest of supporters of the National Democratic Party for Development (NDPD), an ethnic Rohingya party. These reports add to the increasing number of reports from across Burma of intimation of political activists before, during and after the fake election on 7th November. Reports received …
Press release from Shan Women’s Action Network SWAN strongly denounces the Burma Army build-up around the Shan ceasefire area in Ke See township, central Shan State, which led to the rape of a young disabled woman on the eve of the November 7 election. Since November 3, more than 1,000 new troops have been deployed …
Burma Campaign UK today welcomed British Prime Minister David Cameron raising the situation in Burma during his meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. In a written Parliamentary answer, the Prime Minister has also pledged to discuss the situation in Burma with US President Barack Obama. Burma Campaign UK has been calling on the Prime Minister …
Kyaw Kyaw Naing, a jailed member of the National League for Democracy, has gone on hunger strike to protest against sham elections being held today in Burma, according to Burma Campaign UK sources. Kyaw Kyaw Naing is in Pa-an prison in Karen State, Burma, began his hunger strike at 8am on Saturday 6th November. No …
We, the members of the European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma, are expressing our concern with the elections that were held in Burma on November 7th and call on the international community to not recognize its results. The government of Burma has, since 2003, rejected every single proposal by the United Nations and international community to …
Burma Campaign UK today warned that Burmese Army attacks on a Karen armed faction in Myawaddy Town in Karen State, Burma, could be just the first example of many such attacks against armed ethnic groups, creating a major humanitarian and human rights crisis. Burma Campaign UK has repeatedly called on the international community to take …
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma today condemned elections held in Burma on 7th November as a total sham, and called for increased international pressure to force Burma’s dictatorship to the negotiating table. The elections held in Burma on 7th November were the first in 20 years. At the last election, despite severe …
Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is today guest editing his wife Sarah Brown’s Twitter account, supporting Burma Campaign UK’s call for stronger international pressure to bring real change to the people of Burma. Burma’s generals are today holding the country’s first elections for 20 years, but every stage of the election process has been …
As Burma’s generals today hold fake elections, Burma Campaign UK publishes a new briefing detailing how Burma’s generals have brought in a new constitution which sidelines Parliament and makes it impossible for MPs in the new Parliament to introduce any genuine democratic reforms. • There is no requirement for a single member of Burma’s new …