Burma Campaign UK
Civil Society Organisations Deeply Concerned by On-going Violence against Stateless Rohingya in Myanmar and their Refoulement from Bangladesh The stateless Rohingya of Myanmar have suffered from extreme persecution and discrimination for decades. They are now facing another crisis. On 3 June inter-communal violence erupted, and this has evolved into large-scale state sponsored violence against the …
On Tuesday this week, the military backed government in Burma announced the release of 25 political prisoners. Three recent released activists’ cases were highlighted as part of Burma Campaign UK’s new campaign, No Political Prisoner Left Behind, which highlights a political prisoner case every month. Aye Aung, Khun Kawrio and Than Zaw were released under …
Burma Campaign UK today called on Andrew Mitchell, Secretary of State for International Development, to respond to Aung San Suu Kyi’s call in her Nobel Peace Prize speech for increased funding for refugees from Burma by doubling funding for the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC), which provides food and shelter to the refugees. Speaking in …
Burma Campaign UK today strongly urged Jeremy Browne MP, British Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for Burma, to pressure the 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. Despite some positive changes …
Press Release from Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma The Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma) released a new report in Bangkok today, documenting the Government of Burma’s use of torture and ill treatment against its own people since the November 2010 elections. “The international community has been applauding the government for …
Burma Campaign UK today welcomed Early Day Motion 2719 on Burma tabled by members of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Democracy in Burma (APPG Burma). 66 MPs across all parties, called for the continued increasing of UK aid to victims of conflict in Burma. An Early Day Motion (EDM) is a kind of parliamentary …
Statement by a worldwide coalition of Burma campaigning groups “Rape is used in my country as a weapon against those who only want to live in peace, who only want to assert their basic human rights, especially in the areas of the ethnic nationalities. Rape is rife. It is used as a weapon by the …
Burma Campaign UK today urged Jeremy Browne MP, British Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for Burma, to push the military-backed government in Burma to investigate the numbers of remaining political prisoners in Burma. The unconditional release of all political prisoners is an essential step towards genuine democracy and freedom in Burma. Regardless of the changes …
Statement by Members and Observers of the European Burma Network With many sanctions against the military-backed government in Burma in the process of being suspended or lifted, there is intense interest from European companies in investing and trading with Burma. Trade and investment in developing countries can help bring benefits to the local population, both …
Burma Campaign UK today welcomed an announcement by British Prime Minister David Cameron that Britain will not support EU sanctions against Burma being lifted. He has proposed sanctions be suspended instead. Germany and other EU members had been pushing for all sanctions except the arms embargo to be lifted immediately. With hundreds of political prisoners …
On the eve of Prime Minister David Cameron’s visit to Burma, Burma Campaign UK called on him to highlight the serious on-going human rights abuses in the country, and the lack of legal democratic reform. Despite reforms that have taken place, and allowing the NLD to compete in recent by-elections, human rights abuses have increased …
As the United Nations Security Council meets today to discuss developments in Burma, Burma Campaign UK called on Council members to address attacks against ethnic minority civilians by the Burmese Army, which have escalated in the past year. There have been significant changes and welcome reforms in Burma, including the recent by-elections which, although not …
Burma Campaign UK today called on British Foreign Secretary William Hague to ensure the European Union maintains pressure on the military backed government in Burma until all political prisoners are released and other key benchmarks are met. Burma Campaign UK is concerned that the Foreign Office is taking too soft a line within the European …
Media Release from Trade Union Council, TUC The TUC is calling on the UK Government to ensure that no significant EU sanctions against Burma are lifted until forced labour and other serious human rights abuses have been addressed. TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber has written to Foreign Secretary William Hague highlighting the ongoing human rights …
Media Release from Karen Worldwide Representatives from Karen organizations worldwide today call for genuine peace throughout Burma and for national reconciliation towards the establishment of a federal union. They also appealed to the international community, especially the European Union and the United States, to maintain pressure on the Burmese Government until there is tangible political …
Burma Campaign UK has confirmed reports that a pregnant ethnic Kachin woman was shot and killed by Burmese Army soldiers on 11th January 2012. In June last year the Burmese government broke a ceasefire with the Kachin Independence Organisation, an armed political party in Kachin State, north-east Burma. “While the EU’s Baroness Ashton calls President …
Burma Campaign UK today welcomed the EU suspending the application of the visa ban against senior government officials as an appropriate and proportional measure in response to changes that have taken place in Burma. However, Burma Campaign UK is deeply concerned by proposals being made privately by some EU member states and the External Action …
Statement From The Free Burma VJ Campaign The Free Burma VJ campaign is delighted to confirm the release of all the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) video journalists (VJs) in an amnesty of political prisoners on 14 January 2012. Seventeen VJs were in prison on highly arbitrary charges when the campaign began on 3 May …
Burma Campaign UK today welcomed the release of a significant number of political prisoners, including members of the 88 Generation Students and journalists from the Democratic Voice of Burma, but also cautioned the international community not to forget those political prisoners still left behind in Burma’s jails. Since coming to power last year, Thein Sein’s …
Burma Campaign UK today welcomed British Foreign Secretary William Hague’s upbeat but pragmatic message on political progress in Burma during his visit to the country. It is the first visit to Burma by a British Foreign Secretary in 55 years. The Foreign Secretary made clear that the UK and European Union were willing to respond …
Burma Campaign UK sends condolences to the family and friends of former Czech President Vaclav Havel, who has died aged 75. Vaclav Havel was a longstanding supporter of human rights and democracy in Burma. He worked publicly and privately to support Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Burma’s democracy movement. He established human rights …
Burma Campaign UK today called on Foreign Secretary William Hague to make ending the use of rape and sexual violence by the Burmese Army a top priority when he visits Burma in January. The increasing use of rape and sexual violence in Burma has largely been ignored by the international community. A series of small …
Last night, on Monday 12 December 2011, Eddie Izzard performed a special fundraising event in aid of Burma Campaign UK, a sell-out comedy benefit at Brighton Dome. Eddie Izzard is one of Britain’s foremost comedians and actors. Eddie Izzard said, “We send our support to the people of Burma and I’m sure that the money …
Burma Campaign UK today welcomed the release of the three resistance fighters from Burma, who have been held in India for more than 13 years, despite never having committed a crime. They were three of a total of 34 resistance fighters being held. The other 31 were released in May 2011. Lu Lu, Hay Li …