MONDAY 24TH OCTOBER
Protest to be held outside House of Commons
Including speeches by John Bercow MP and Vera Baird MP– co-chairs All-Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma
12.30-1.30pm opposite St Stephens Gate, House of Commons, London
Nearest Tube: Westminster
On Monday 24th October 2005 Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma’s democracy movement, will have spent a total of 10 years in detention. The Burma Campaign UK is holding a demonstration outside the House of Commons calling on the government to put Burma on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council.
“The time for empty words is over,” said Yvette Mahon, Director of the Burma Campaign UK. “The regime in Burma has snubbed the UN and is undermining its credibility. It is time for action. The Security Council must pass a binding resolution demanding that the regime restore democracy to Burma and release Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners.”
ABOUT AUNG SAN SUU KYI
Aung San Suu Kyi has been in and out of detention since 1989. She was held under house arrest from 1989-1995, and again from 2000-2002. She was again arrested in May 2003 after the Depayin massacre, during which up to 100 of her supporters were beaten to death by the regime’s militia. She is currently held under house arrest in Rangoon.
Fears for Aung San Suu Kyi’s safety have been growing since a government reshuffle in October 2004, in which hardliners seized control of key government posts. General Soe Win, the mastermind behind the 30th May 2003 massacre, has been promoted to the post of Prime Minister. Since then the military dictatorship has been intensifying its isolation of Aung San Suu Kyi. She is allowed no visitors, her phone line has been cut, post intercepted, and National League for Democracy volunteers providing security at her compound have been removed.
For more information contact Mark Farmaner, Burma Campaign UK, Media Manager, on 020 7324 4713