Burma Campaign UK
As Burma’s Parliament prepares for its next session, Burma Campaign UK called on the international community to pay close attention to the new budget proposed by Thein Sein’s government, as an indicator of his commitment to implementing promised reforms. Last year’s budget allocated just 1.3 percent of the government budget to health, and just over …
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 …
Media Release from the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) JAKARTA – In light of the decision to hand Myanmar the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2014, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) today called on the regional grouping to ensure it closely monitors Myanmar’s self-declared reform process and take critical …
In the past 24 hours, supporters of Burma Campaign UK have sent more than 1,000 email messages to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon ahead of his meeting with President Thein Sein of Burma later this week. Ban Ki-moon is expected to meet Thein Sein at the ASEAN summit in Indonesia. The messages urge Ban Ki-moon …
As Andrew Mitchell, Secretary of State for International Development, visits Burma this week, Burma Campaign UK called on him to do more to ensure British aid reaches internal refugees who have fled increased attacks by the Burmese Army in the past year. Forty-percent of the population of Burma are from different ethnic groups. For decades …
Burma Campaign UK today sounded a note of caution about the pace of political change in Burma, and called on the international community not to move too fast to relax pressure on the Burmese government. One year on from the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma’s democracy movement, most political prisoners remain …
Burma Campaign UK today sounded a note of caution about the pace of political change in Burma, and called on the international community not to move too fast to relax pressure on the Burmese government. One year on from the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma’s democracy movement, most political prisoners remain …
Burma Campaign UK today condemned the European Union for tabling a draft of this year’s UN General Assembly Resolution on Burma which fails to take any action to stop war crimes and crimes against humanity in the country. This is despite the fact that human rights abuses which may constitute war crimes and crimes against …
Urgent Appeal from the Kachin Women’s Association Thailand The Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT) is gravely concerned for the lives of four women being held as sex slaves at a frontline post near Loije at the Kachin-China border, and calls for the Burma Army to immediately free them, and for foreign envoys in Burma to …
Moe Bu, Campaigner at Burma Campaign UK, jumped from a plane flying 2 miles high yesterday to raise money for Burma Campaign UK. The parachute jump took place in Kent, UK. So far almost £6,000 has been raised by the jump. Moe Bu is 25 years old, and ethnic Karenni from Burma, who as a …
Jag Dojkovski, Fundraising Assistant at Burma Campaign UK, has completed her 2,000km bike ride for political prisoners in Burma, arriving in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. Jag was cycling one kilometre for every political prisoner in Burma. She was also seeking to raise £2,000 for campaigning for the release of political prisoners. In …
Statement From European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma The European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma (EPCB) welcomes the release of around 200 political prisoners in Burma. The release of all political prisoners, along with the implementation of a nationwide ceasefire, are essential first steps in creating a climate in which there can be a genuine dialogue process …
Burma Campaign UK today welcomed a statement by the British government that they will not review or dilute Burma sanctions yet. The statement follows the disappointingly low number of political prisoners released in an amnesty last Wednesday. During a short debate on Burma in the House of Lords on 13th October, Baroness Kinnock, Patron of …
Small number of prisoners released a reality check for those believing promises of reform. Burma Campaign UK today expressed disappointment at how few political prisoners have so far been released under a new prisoner amnesty in Burma. Many senior political prisoners also remain in jail. There are between one and two thousand political prisoners in …
Press Release by the Karenni Development Research Group – KDRG Unprecedented releases of water from Burma’s first major hydropower dam at Moebye due to heavy rainfall have caused severe flooding around the Karenni capital, Loikaw, spurring calls by community groups to suspend construction of three large hydropower dams planned by Chinese investors in Karenni state. …
Jag Dojkovski, Fundraising Assistant at Burma Campaign UK, cycled out of Trafalgar Sq in central London today, beginning a 2,000km bike ride to raise awareness about political prisoners, and raise money for Burma Campaign UK. “I am cycling one kilometre for each political prisoner in Burma,” said Jag Dojkovski. “I hope the bike ride will …