Burma Campaign UK
Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, welcomed the UN Security Council discussion on Burma requested by the UK, but called on the British Government to go further in its objections to the current situation in Rakhine. “Supporting Aung San Suu Kyi and reforms in Myanmar doesn’t mean the British government has to stand by and do nothing …
Mark Farmaner of Burma Campaign UK, one of several former Aung San Suu Kyi supporters interviewed by the Washington Post, said that while Suu Kyi may be constrained by the political situation, there are many areas where she has the freedom to act and has not done so. “There are problems which will take years …
“There is only one person in Burma who can order the soldiers to stop killing Rohingya civilians and stop burning down villages,” Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, told the Turkish news agency. “The international community needs to personally name Min Aung Hlaing when making calls for restraint or an end to abuses … …
In an interview with the independent Catholic news site Crux, Burma Campaign UK’s Director Mark Farmaner said of Pope Francis’ plans for visiting Burma in November: “We need to see practical results that will deliver long-term change on the ground. If Pope Francis could persuade the government to work with him on implementing programs to …
The Vale Earth Fair in Guernsey has been nominated for the Moonpig-sponsored Arts Contribution of the Year Award. The music festival is a charitable event run by volunteers and donates its profits to humanitarian causes such as the Burma Campaign UK. Read Guernsey Press article
Diplomats and international human rights groups have expressed concern for the three journalists arrested on Monday in Shan State. Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, told the Democratic Voice of Burma: “Min Aung Hlaing must immediately release the seven people, including the three journalists, who he has detained. With hundreds of thousands of soldiers …
A shocking new report by Amnesty International into ongoing human rights violations in Kachin State and northern Shan State describes many of them as war crimes, the vast majority committed by the Burmese Army. Writing for the Huffington Post, Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, calls on the British government to end its free …
Aye Naing and Pyae Bone Naing from the Democratic Voice of Burma and Lawi Weng from the Irrawaddy were arrested by the Burmese army on 26 June. Download the poster below and send it to Min Aung Hlaing on Facebook: Message Min Aung Hlaing
At the UNISON trade union conference this week, Burma Campaign UK is asking trade union members to support the campaign to repeal repressive laws in Burma. Doug Janke, Head of Development, on BCUK’s stall
Peace activists Ma Pwint Phyu Latt and Ko Zaw Zaw Latt were among 259 prisoners released from jail today, following a presidential amnesty announced to coincide with the opening of fresh peace talks in Nay Pyi Taw. Burma Campaign UK has campaigned for their release and calls for the release of all political prisoners. Like …
A new report documents physical evidence of atrocities committed against the Rohingya by the Burmese Army. “Burned, Stabbed and Shot – Physical Evidence of Atrocities Committed against the Rohingya” is published by the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK. Watch YouTube video
Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, writing for the Democratic Voice of Burma, calls for a transparent policy from the NLD-led government about how it operates the visa ban list: “A year into the NLD government’s term in office, there is no excuse for still banning human rights and democracy activists from their own country …
As Aung San Suu Kyi tours Europe this week, she faces criticism for being unable to bring all ethnic armed groups together for peace negotiations in Burma, and for publicly announcing she would not “take sides” in the conflict in Rakhine State. Zoya Phan, campaign manager for Burma Campaign UK, told the Irrawaddy “Europe needs …
As Min Aung Hlaing returns from his visit to Europe, the Washington Post reports that Burma Campaign UK condemned the governments of Germany and Austria for inviting him. The Post quotes Burma Campaign UK’s statement: “Min Aung Hlaing is the biggest obstacle to improving human rights, democratic reform, peace, modernisation, and improving health and education …
In an article for Mizzima News from Myanmar, Burma Campaign UK’s Director Mark Farmaner said history was made this Thingyan New Year, but it largely went unnoticed. For the first time in decades a prisoner amnesty was announced, but none of those released were political prisoners. Almost 200 political prisoners were left in jail, some …
National and international NGOs, including Burma Campaign UK, have issued a joint statement to mark the third anniversary of U Win Tin’s death. They call for the immediate release of all political prisoners and the establishment of an “independent and effective” prisoner review mechanism to bring about an end to arbitrary arrests and detentions. Read …
Politicians and activists around the world wore blue shirts today to commemorate renowned journalist and politician U Win Tin and all political prisoners still held in Burma’s jails. The event this year falls on the three-year anniversary of U Win Tin’s death. Read the Irrawaddy report
At the UN Security Council’s first ‘thematic’ debate on human rights this Tuesday, Burma rejoined the ranks of Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria as the USA’s least favourite human rights violators. Read Coconuts Yangon report
Anna Roberts, Executive Director and Doug Janke, Head of Development at Burma Campaign UK, at NASUWT’s conference in Manchester this weekend, with thanks to NASUWT for great support.
BCUK Director Mark Farmaner writes in Huffington Post: “Min Aung Hlaing is the biggest obstacle to improving human rights, democratic reform, peace, modernisation, and improving health and education in Burma.Yet somehow, he largely escapes direct criticism.” Read Huffington Post article
“Unrecognised Leaders, Tomorrow’s Hope: Raising the Voices of Forgotten Youth” is a documentary film by Burma Link, the Karen Student Network Group and the Karen Youth Organisation. The documentary calls for inclusion of displaced ethnic youth on the Thailand-Burma border in political processes and recognition of refugee education certificates. Watch on YouTube – English version …
Aung San Suu Kyi has denied there is ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya Muslim minority, despite widespread reports of abuses. In an exclusive interview with Fergal Keane of the BBC, Burma’s State Counsellor acknowledged problems in Rakhine state, but said ethnic cleansing was “too strong” a term to use. Watch BBC interview
Krishnan Guru-Murthy and director Karim Shah travelled to Burma to investigate whether its fledgling democracy is already under attack. Their report was shown on Channel 4 today. Watch the Channel 4 programme
Wai Hnin Pwint Thon, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK, spoke today on women’s rights at an event in Parliament hosted by Catherine West MP, Shadow Foreign Minister, to mark International Women’s Day.