Burma Campaign UK
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 …
Burma Campaign UK today called for the immediate release of Mading Zau Bawk and other remaining political prisoners in Burma. Mading Zau Bawk is a 23-year-old Kachin farmer who was arrested in May 2012 and tortured brutally by the military-backed government in Burma. To draw attention to the hundreds of political prisoners still in jail, …
Burma Campaign UK today welcomed the announcement by the office of President Thein Sein that a Committee will be formed to review political prisoner cases in Burma. The formation of the committee was originally announced in November, with a promise that arrangements would be discussed by the end of 2012. Five weeks after this deadline, …
Burma Campaign UK today welcomed Early Day Motion 838 on Burma, tabled by members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma (APPG Burma). So far 57 MPs across all parties have signed the motion, calling for international observers, full international access to deliver humanitarian aid, and the repeal of the racist 1982 …
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 welcomed the release of Aung Hmine San, Than Htike, Min Naing Lwin and Thein Aung Myint who were arrested for protesting without permission. However, Burma Campaign UK urged the military-backed government in Burma to repeal the current protest law which doesn’t give genuine rights and freedom to protest. Aung Hmine San, …
Burma Campaign UK today urged the Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire MP to call in the Burmese ambassador to Britain to question him regarding why people are still being arrested under the right to protest law in Burma. Burma Campaign UK also urged the Foreign Office Minister to demand the military-backed government pass a protest …
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 today urged the Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire MP to make the unconditional release of U Gambira and all the remaining political prisoners one of his main priorities on his visit to Burma next week. Despite increasing human rights violations in Burma, the main purpose of Hugo Swire’s visit is to …
Civil Society and Community Groups Condemn the Violent Crackdown on Protest Against the Letpadaung Copper Mine in Burma We, the undersigned civil society and community based organizations, condemn yesterday’s brutal crackdown against protesters who have been calling for the suspension of the Letpadaung copper mine near Monywa, Sagaing Region in Burma. This violence is …
Today the military-backed government in Burma released around 50 political prisoners. Two of the released activists had been highlighted as part of Burma Campaign UK’s campaign, No Political Prisoner Left Behind, which highlights a political prisoner case every month. Myint Aye and Zaw Zaw Aung were released under a Presidential order. Burma Campaign UK …