410,000 people have joined the Facebook group Support the Monks in Burma, making it one of the largest groups on Facebook and a powerful information and lobby tool to raise awareness about Burma and lobby governments and companies.
Despite Burma falling out of the news headlines, thousands of people a day are still signing up to the group.
“The fact that the group continues to grow shows that the eyes of the world are still on Burma Johnny Chatterton, UK Coordinator of the group. “No one can deny that we are now having an effect, thousands of group members have been contacting companies helping to fund the regime and we have claimed a major victory as Rolls Royce has announced it will no longer do business in the country.”
“Our group is now focused on drawing attention to October 24th when the democratically elected leader of Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi will have spent 12 years under house arrest. We are calling for October 24th to be a day of reflection for Burma. We will be organising vigils and other peaceful protests worldwide”.
The Facebook group have also released a video of images from the ‘Global Day of Action for Burma’ on October 6th, illustrating how the group is about ordinary people from around the joining together to demand that the Burmese Generals release Aung San Suu Kyi immediately.”
The group has also recently gained support from another Nobel Prize winner, Elie Wiesel: “I am thrilled to learn that so many young people, have so movingly responded to the Burmese people’s courageous struggle for freedom and dignity. You are their hope and ours.” -Elie Wiesel