Burma Campaign UK
The Burma Campaign UK (TBC) and Tourism Concern (TC) will launch a new arm of their existing campaign opposing tourism to Burma. The campaign groups are calling for a boycott of all Lonely Planet publications (LP) until the company withdraws its Burma guide from the market (new edition Jan 2000). TBC and TC representatives, and …
As Premier Oil prepares for its Annual General Meeting (AGM) a new report alleges that the Yetagun consortium which includes Premier Oil, was informed that increased numbers of Burmese troops, known for serious human rights violations, would be drafted into civilian areas to provide security for Premier’s gas pipeline. The pipeline supplying gas from Burma …
Today the European Union (EU) agreed three new measures to toughen its position against Burma’s military dictatorship. The EU agreed a ban on the export of equipment that might be used for internal repression or terrorism; the naming of individuals within the regime to whom the current EU visa ban applies; and the imposition of …
What leads young men and children to take such desperate action? As easy condemnation of ‘God’s Army’ mixes with a morbid celebration of the deaths of the youths who fought under its banner, we should at least have the humanity to ask why? It is absolutely clear that Burmese pro-democracy groups and ethnic nationality communities …
A High Court case has today paved the way for the Government to ban investment by British companies in Burma. Burma’s ruling military regime has one of the worst human rights records in the world and was recently described by the UN as ‘at war with its own people’. The Burma Campaign (TBC) brought a …
Last night on Channel 4’s ‘Mark Thomas Comedy Product’, Robin Cook was questioned on whether the Government had really tried to disuade British company Premier Oil from investing in Burma’s military dictatorship. Mr Cook had told BBC Radio Four’s Today Programe that Premier Oil was ‘summoned’ to the Foreign Office and told “don’t do it” …
08 Sep 1999 Share on facebook Share on twitter The Government’s much-heralded ethical foreign policy is to be tested in the High Court. The Burma Campaign UK (TBC) has launched a judicial review against the Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, over his attitude to sanctions against the military regime in Burma, one of the most brutal …
On Thursday September 9th in London’s West End, The Burma Campaign UK (TBC) is co-ordinating the Burma Freedom Ride 9.9.99. Similar events are being held across Europe, the United States and Asia as part of an international effort to focus attention on the serious deterioration of the political and human rights situation in Burma. In …
In an interview with the Burma Campaign UK, Burma’s democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi calls on tourists to stay away from Burma. She also criticises tour operators who claim tourists assist the cause of democracy by exposing Burmese people to new ideas about freedom and democracy: “That’s so patronising! Burmese people know their own …
Burma’s newly appointed foreign minister, Win Aung – until last week the military regime’s ambassador to London – will be celebrating his promotion in London this weekend. The celebration organised by the Myanmar Association will be held between 12.00pm and 6.00pm at Ealing Town Hall, 14-16 Uxbridge Road, London W5 2HL on Sunday 22 November. …
Swedish mobile telephone company Ericsson, today announced that it is suspending all business links with Burma forthwith. This decision follows protests by democracy campaigners at recent Celine Dion concerts in the US, which were sponsored by Ericsson. The company had also previously lost a multi-million dollar contract with the City of San Francisco, partly due …
There has been widespread coverage that the UK government has called for new sanctions to be imposed on the regime in Rangoon. The government has in fact asked for limited measures, such as visa bans, that were imposed by the previous Conservative administration to be extended. The discouragement of trade and tourism cannot be considered …
The International Labour Organisation (ILO), an agency of the United Nations, released a report today which accuses Burma’s ruling military of systematic and widespread use of forced labour. The report charges that “any person who violates the prohibition of recourse to forced labour under the (ILO) Convention is guilty of an international crime that is …
The following is the speech delivered by Thaung Htun, UN representative for the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) to the Alternative State Reception for the unrepresented peoples of Asia. Key points: – Unilateral Sanctions By UK or Any Other EU Government On Burma are legally possible and should be imposed. – …
Burma’s pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, has criticised UK company Premier Oil for supporting the military regime in Burma by helping it to develop off-shore gas reserves. In a new video statement smuggled out of Burma she condemns the company, saying “Premier Oil is not only supporting this military government …
In an interview on BBC 2’s Newsnight on 3 July the Government moved British Foreign policy on Burma one step closer to supporting full economic sanctions against the country. Foreign Minister Derek Fatchett said the Government would now “discourage economic activity” in Burma. Although at present the Government “cannot control or order companies not to …
The election of the new Labour government may prove a good omen for Burma’s democracy movement. Today as the British Ambassador hand delivered a birthday greeting to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from the new Foreign Secretary, the Government issued a statement detailing the Government’s new policy on trade promotion towards Burma. In answer to …
On Thursday 13 June the European Parliament (EP) unanimously adopted a resolution urging the European Commission (EC) “not to take action against the act regulating state contracts with companies with or in Burma passed on 25 June 1996 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, under the dispute settlement procedure of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).” The …
Joint Statement Karen refugees fleeing fighting in the Minthamee area, Tenasserim Division in Burma, are not being guaranteed refuge on Thai soil. Acting upon orders by the Commander of the 9th division of the Thai army, Karen civilians fleeing conflict and human rights abuses committed by the SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council ) …
PepsiCo have released a statement announcing the severance of all commercial links with Burma; “We are completing our total disengagement from the Burmese market. Accordingly, we have severed all relationships with our former franchise bottler, effective January 15, 1997. The bottler in Burma is taking appropriate steps to ensure that all production and distribution of …
British Home Stores have announced that their only remaining contract for Burma sourced clothing is due to expire within the next three weeks. The company have signed a sequence of contracts with their UK suppliers for Burmese clothing. However on expiry of this current contract the company will not sign a new contract, and now …
Today marks a historical milestone for the democracy movement in Burma. On the 8th of August 1988 the nationwide uprising occurred to protest against human rights abuses, economic decline and in order to abandon the one party dictatorship. The social unrest started during March and the event reached a climax on 8/8/88. As a response …
The Burma Action Group (BAG) will be joining members of the Burmese democracy movement in holding a demonstration and photo opportunity outside the London headquarters of Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Ltd, Sea Containers House, 20 Upper Ground, London SE1 at 8am on Thursday 8 August to mark the eighth anniversary of the start of the 1988 uprisings …
We, the European Burma solidarity groups listed below, support the call for economic sanctions on Burma issued by the European Parliament on 18 July 1996. We welcome the good example set by Carlsberg and Heineken in deciding to withdraw from Burma. We support the request by the democratically elected representatives of the Burmese people that …