Campaign News

 

Article in the Irrawaddy quotes Burma Campaign UK: Economic reform has taken preference over political reform in Burma, said an international human rights group campaigning for the release of what it terms political prisoners still jailed in the country. The Burma Campaign UK is urging Britain’s foreign secretary to pressure the Naypyidaw government as part …

An article by Burma Campaign UK’s Researcher Alec Scott. ‘In the past 8 years opium production in Burma has nearly tripled. Ninety-seven percent of Southeast Asia’s opium is produced in Burma, with 92% of production located in Shan State in the east of the country. Shan State is mountainous and home to many ethnic peoples, …

Article in the Huffington Post by Mark Farmaner, Director at Burma Campaign UK. “This week Thein Sein, President of Burma, will be visiting The Hague, in the Netherlands. As a man with a lot of blood on his hands, you might be thinking this is long overdue. But instead of being indicted at the International …

Anna Roberts and Emily Butler at the TUC in Liverpool with our photo wall of new supporters for Burma Campaign UK’s Rose-Tinted Glasses campaign!

Supporter Isobel Thompson completed the Ice Bucket Challenge for Burma Campaign UK on her 19th birthday – thanks Isobel!

Zoya Phan, Campaigns Manager at Burma Campaign UK, is featured in the New Internationalist magazine. ‘The government policy on Burma is soft,’ says Zoya Phan with a hint of anger in her voice. ‘They are promoting their own trade and business interests. I want to see a more robust policy from [British Prime Minister] David …

Article in Huffington Post by Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. Four years after its reform process began, Burma still has one of the worst human rights records in the world. In fact, human rights violations which break international law have actually increased, with evidence of war crimes, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing and …

In assessing the reform process in Burma, which is an entirely top-down process, examining the man leading the reforms is essential. Article in The Irrawaddy by Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK.    

Article in The Irrawaddy: The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has ruled on the case of ethnic Kachin farmer Brawn Yung, who is serving a 21-year sentence in Myitkyina Prison, and called on the Burmese government to immediately release him and offer reparations because his detention is illegal. Wai Hnin Pwint Thon, campaigns …

An article in the Myanmar Times today: On July 15, 2013 – one year ago this week – President U Thein Sein stood next to David Cameron in London and told reporters, “By the end of the year there will be no prisoners of conscience in Myanmar.” “The UK, US and rest of the international …

A short video about the situation of the Rohingyas in Burma.

Burma Campaign UK is quoted in an article in The Diplomat: “As long as the foundations of military rule remain in place, the large EU funds flowing into Myanmar carry the heavy risk of supporting authoritarianism, instead of democracy. “The process of closer partnership should be frozen, along with all programs building government capacity except …

The British government is spending more than £60m a year on aid to Burma, but not all that aid is reaching the people who need it, and a lot is going on programmes which help the military-backed government. Here are nine ways to make improvements. Read the list here on BuzzFeed.

Yesterday, there was a debate in the British Parliament on the persecution of the Rohingya and other minorities in Burma. Speaking in the debate, David Ward MP said, “Burma Campaign UK has produced eight steps that it believes the British Government could take to improve human rights in Burma. First, the Government should put human …

Article in Myanmar Times this week quotes Burma Campaign UK: “Activists and human rights groups are urging Britain to maintain pressure on the government to combat sexual violence in conflict, as focus shifts to implementation of a plan to address the issue after Myanmar endorsed a UN declaration earlier this month. “If sexual violence by …

 

  At the Unison conference in Brighton today, where our campaign to highlight the British government’s rose-tinted view on Burma is getting a lot of support!    

A delegation of women from Burma spoke at a meeting in the British Parliament today. They spoke about the ongoing use of rape and sexual violence by the Burmese Army, as well as the situation in Kachin State highlighting the ongoing military offensive and humanitarian assistance for IDPs, Karen and Shan State, refugees return, the …

A delegation of women from Burma have joined the Global Summit To End Sexual Violence In Conflict being held in London this week, hosted by British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Angelina Jolie. Moon Nay Li, coordinator at the Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT), writes in Mizzima: “If the international community is serious about ending sexual …

Article in the Democratic Voice of Burma today as the British government hosts an international summit on rape in conflict, aiming to “shatter the culture of impunity for sexual violence in conflict”. A delegation of seven women representing Burmese civil society groups are attending the summit. “Rape and sexual violence by the Burmese Army has …