Burma Campaign UK
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. …
As Cyclone Mahasen threatens millions of people in Bangladesh and Burma, including tens of thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Rakhine State, Burma Campaign UK today called on the British government and international community to take action to force President Thein Sein to allow unrestricted humanitarian aid, and stop violating international humanitarian law. Burma …
BRAVE NEW BURMA By NIC DUNLOP Nic Dunlop spent 20 years photographing Burma under military rule. His new book, Brave New Burma, is an intimate portrait in words and pictures of a country finally emerging from decades of dictatorship, isolation and fear. From the frontlines of the civil war to deceptively tranquil cities, from the …
Burma Campaign UK today expressed extreme concern that political activist Nay Myo Zin is being forced to serve his old prison sentence after being convicted on a new charge. He is the first former political prisoner to be put back in prison to serve his old prison sentence after his conditional release under a presidential …
Burma Campaign UK today joined the campaign in support of Andy Hall, a migrant researcher who defends the rights of migrants in Thailand, who is facing legal action in an attempt to silence him. A court hearing about the case in Thailand was expected to take place today. Following Andy Hall exposing human rights abuses …
A labour activist has been jailed for 7 and half years after being falsely accused of cutting down trees. Burma Campaign UK today urged Hugo Swire MP, British Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for Burma to do more to push the military-backed government in Burma to release Myint Soe and all remaining political prisoners in …
Political prisoner Tun Aung has had his prison sentence increased by six years, despite British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire MP asking Burmese government ministers for his release. The decision of the Burmese government to take court action to increase his sentence raises yet more doubts about British government claims that by befriending the government …
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’s treatment of the ethnic Rohingya of Burma violates at least eight international laws, treaty obligations and international human rights guidelines. The findings come in a new briefing paper published today by Burma Campaign UK: ‘Burma’s Treatment of the Rohingya and International Law.’ The briefing is available here. The briefing paper examines Burma’s treatment of …
Burma Campaign UK today urged Hugo Swire MP, British Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for Burma, to push the military-backed government in Burma to secure the unconditional release of Aung Naing and to repeal the repressive laws which put political prisoners in jail. As part of the No Political Prisoner Left Behind campaign, Burma Campaign …
Burma Campaign UK today called upon the European Union not to abandon benchmarks for the improvement of human rights in Burma. The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union meets on April 22nd to decide whether to continue the suspension of EU Sanctions, or to lift them. Burma Briefing No.22: European Union Must Not Abandon …
Burma Campaign UK has published examples of some of the anti-Muslim propaganda which is being circulated in Burma. The purpose of publishing these examples is to increase international understanding of some of the underlying causes of anti-Muslim violence in Burma. “Leaflets inciting anti-Muslim hatred and violence have been circulated across Burma for many months, and …
Burma Campaign UK today publishes Burma briefing No.20: Friends Burma’s Rohingya Could Do Without. The Briefing is a commentary on some of the dubious ‘friends’ that Burma’s ethnic Rohingya are attracting. “In the absence of strong international support for the Rohingya, many dubious organisations and countries have pledged support for the Rohingya, but many are …
The European Union is currently reviewing its policy on sanctions on Burma. On 22nd April the EU Foreign Affairs Council will decide whether to continue the suspension of EU sanctions, or to lift sanctions. We are concerned that the premature lifting of European Union sanctions will undermine the reform process in Burma, and could even …
Burma Campaign UK is calling on the international community to mobilise to create an urgent task force to help tackle religious violence in Burma. Burma Briefing No.19: An international task force Is needed to help tackle growing religious violence in Burma, contains a detailed analysis of some of the underlying causes of anti-Muslim violence in …
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 …
Burma Campaign UK today called on Hugo Swire MP, British Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for Burma, to pressure the military-backed government in Burma to secure the unconditional release of Win Myint, Kan Min Thar, Tun Oo and all remaining political prisoners. To draw attention to hundreds of political prisoners still in jail, Burma …
Burma Campaign UK today delivered a petition with 4,000 signatures to the Burmese Embassy in London, calling on President Thein Sein to ensure the release of all political prisoners in Burma. The Burmese Embassy refused to accept the petition, but Burma Campaign UK left it in the Embassy anyway. It has been two years since …
Two of Britain’s funniest comedians Omid Djalili and Jo Brand are appearing together on Wednesday March 6th at the Brighton Dome. Proceeds from the performance are in aid of Burma Campaign UK. Jo Brand and Omid Djalili are performing the stand up gig to raise funds for Burma Campaign UK and its campaign to end …
Burma Campaign UK is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Saw Shwe Lar, who died on 18 February 2013, in The Netherlands. Saw Shwe Lar was one of the 34 Karen and Rakhine freedom fighters who were betrayed by Indian intelligence and unlawfully jailed in 1998, after 6 of their leaders were executed …
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 …
Burma Campaign UK today called on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to use his influence to ensure that the new committee set up to review political prisoner cases genuinely addresses the problem, and isn’t simply used to alleviate international pressure. Burma Campaign UK has welcomed the announcement by Burma’s President Thein Sein to establish a …