Burma Campaign UK
The Burma Campaign today said it was hopeful but sceptical following reports that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon had secured agreement from Burma’s generals for aid workers to be allowed into the country. “We’ll believe it when we see the aid workers on the ground in the delta,” said Zoya Phan, International Coordinator of the …
The European Parliament today passed a strongly worded resolution calling for the European Union to press for Burma to be taken to the International Criminal Court for ‘crimes against humanity’ if it continues to block aid. The Resolution also stated that sovereignty cannot be allowed to override human rights. It calls on the UK, which …
The Burma Campaign UK would like to express our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences on the loss of Padoh Saw Ba Thein Sein, Chairman of the Karen National Union (KNU). The death of Padoh Saw Ba Thein Sein is a great loss not only for his family and the Karen people, but also for the …
As Ban Ki-Moon meets Burma’s Top Generals, they will be deciding whether or not to keep Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma’s democracy movement, under house arrest. Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention is due to expire on 27th May, but as her detention was renewed for one year on 25th May last year it …
The Burma Campaign UK today called on United Nations, and development agencies operating in Burma, to investigate whether cyclone aid is being blocked to ethnic Karen. The Burma Campaign UK is concerned about consistent reports of aid being blocked to areas with predominantly Karen farms and villages. Ethnic Karen are believed to make up around …
The Burma Campaign UK today warned that the international community is falling for the same old lies and delaying tactics that the Burmese military dictatorship invariably uses to avoid political pressure regarding its human rights record. ASEAN ministers meeting on Monday agreed a limited UN coordinated aid deal with Burma. But the deal doesn’t allow …
Info Birmanie, The Burma Campaign UK, and the Fédération Internationale des Droits de l’Homme (FIDH) today questioned TOTAL’s board of directors over the French company’s moral and financial support to the Burmese regime through its gas projects in the country. Last October the Chief Executive of TOTAL, Christophe de Margerie, stated that the Yadana gas …
Campaigners across the world will join forces tomorrow to demand the world does more to aid cyclone victims in Burma. More than 30 events will take place worldwide, including in UK, USA, France, Spain, Hong Kong, Thailand, Chile, Australia, Canada, Belgium and Czech Republic. In the UK protests will be focussed on the American, French …
Burma Campaigners have purchased shares in Total Oil in order to attend the company’s Annual General Meeting in Paris on Friday. Total Oil is one of the largest corporate funders of the military dictatorship in Burma, which is currently denying aid to millions of its citizens following a devastating cyclone which struck the country on …
No Hope For Responsibility To Protect Action By Security Council The Burma Campaign UK today condemned China for continuing to obstruct moves to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Burma. “Any hope that the Security Council would invoke Responsibility to Protect is now dead,” said Mark Farmaner. “There is no way China will accept a resolution. …
The Burma Campaign UK today welcomed an announcement by Prime Minister Gordon Brown that HMS Westminster is on its way to Burma with humanitarian supplies. It is more than a week since the cyclone struck and the regime ruling Burma is still blocking aid to the country. “Everyone we speak to in Burma is desperate …
Failure to donate would be a triple-whammy for innocent victims The Burma Campaign UK today called on the British public not to be put off donating for Burma’s cyclone victims by stories of Burma’s generals seizing UN aid. “If you give to British charities or the DEC appeal your money is safe and will reach …
The Burma Campaign UK today called on the British government to back moves to get the United Nations Security Council to authorise aid shipments to Burma. On day 6 since Cyclone Nargis struck, most people have still not received any aid because of restrictions by the regime. Every day of delay is likely to cost …
New research by the Burma Campaign UK today reveals that nearly 2000 villages are flooded in Burma following Cyclone Nargis. The Burma Campaign UK today expressed serious concern for the victims of Cyclone Nargis. “The situation in these villages is critical,”, said Johnny Chatterton, Campaigns Officer at the Burma Campaign UK. “This is a humanitarian …
The Burma Campaign UK today condemned the regime in Burma for spending just £2.5m ($5 million) on aid for people affected by the cyclone, despite receiving £1.35bn (2.7bn dollars a year) from gas exports. The figures were revealed in a UN document following a meeting regime officials held with the UN and diplomats on May …
As the death toll in Burma rises to at least 22,000, new satellite maps released by the United Nations show the devastating scale of floods affecting Burma’s Irrawaddy Delta following Cylone Nargis striking Burma on Saturday. The maps show large swathes of the South coast under water. Residents in these areas mainly live in bamboo …
UK Cyclone Aid Must Be New Money The Burma Campaign UK today welcomed an announcement by International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander that the British government would provide £5m in humanitarian assistance for cyclone victims in Burma. The announcement came four days after a devastating cyclone hit Burma, killing more than 22,000 and leaving hundreds of …
The Burma Campaign UK today called on the UK government to provide emergency aid for cyclone victims in Burma. At least 15,000 people are feared dead and hundreds of thousands homeless after Burma was struck by Cyclone Nargis on Friday night. The European Commission and USA have offered emergency assistance, but so far there has …
The Burma Campaign UK today condemned the regime in Burma for failing to give adequate warnings to the population about the cyclone that hit Burma on Saturday, and failing to adequately help victims. “This is yet another example of how the regime ignores the welfare of the people of Burma,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of …
Supporters of the Burma Campaign UK are sending an email every minute to Burmese embassies worldwide. The emails are demanding the regime allow immediate medical access to Min Ko Naing, who has an eye infection. “In the 24 hours since we launched the campaign Burmese embassies have received an email every minute in support of …
The Burma Campaign UK today welcomed a statement by the European Union calling on the international community to join it in its ban on the sales of arms and military equipment to Burma. EU Foreign Ministers meeting on April 29th also agreed to renew existing sanctions against Burma for a further year, and expressed concern …
The Burma Campaign UK today launched an email campaign targeting Burmese embassies worldwide, calling on the regime to allow medical access to political prisoner Min Ko Naing. Min Ko Naing, a leading democracy activist, is being held in Rangoon’s notorious Insein Prison. He is suffering from a serious eye infection and may go blind because …
The Burma Campaign UK today welcomed a European Parliament resolution calling for the European Union to support a global arms embargo against Burma. Burma Campaign groups in Europe have been lobbying members of the European Parliament asking them to put pressure on EU governments to support an embargo. European Union Foreign Ministers meet on Monday …
Burma Activists To Hold Olympic Torch Protest. Sunday 6th April – 12.30-1.30pm Downing Street. The torch is scheduled to pass at 1pm. The Burma Campaign UK and Burmese political exiles will hold a protest at Downing Street as the Olympic torch passes. Campaigners will be demanding China stops supporting Burma’s brutal military dictatorship. China arms …