Dear friends

This week we have some good news from the campaign in the UK, but also some very disturbing news about a new military offensive the regime has launched against civilians – which so far the international community has ignored. Please do take the time to read this email and lend your support.

Thank you.

CHARM TONG VISITS UK
This week has been a significant one for the campaign for democracy in Burma. Democracy activist Charm Tong, of the Shan Women’s Action Network, has been visiting the UK, and has met with very senior British politicians, including foreign secretary Jack Straw MP, David Cameron MP, leader of the Conservative Party, William Hague, Conservative Party shadow foreign secretary, and Michael Moore, Liberal Democrat shadow foreign secretary. Charm Tong also gave evidence to the new Conservative Party Human Rights Commission and to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma.

You can hear Charm Tong being interviewed on Radio 4 Women’s Hour at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/02/2006_17_fri.shtml
You can read the evidence given to the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission at:
http://www.conservativehumanrights.com/events/index.htm

The visit has been the highest profile visit to the UK by a Burmese democracy activist. The fact that so many senior British politicians wanted to meet with Charm Tong demonstrates that the issue of Burma is moving up the political agenda in the UK. This is in large part due to all your letters, emails and faxes to MPs and the British government. They are working! Thank you.

REGIME SLAUGHTERING CIVILIANS
Also this week the regime has continued with a new military offensive, committing horrific human rights abuses against civilians of the Karen ethnic nationality. More than 11,000 people have been forced from their homes and are now homeless in the jungle with no food or medical supplies.

Regime soldiers are killing with impunity, even shooting children and beheading people. Despite this, on Thursday 27th April, the European Union renewed the EU Common Position on Burma (the joint EU government policy on Burma) without taking any steps to increase pressure on the regime. In effect they are saying that no further pressure needs to be put on the regime, everything is fine. This is disgraceful.

You can read more about the attacks on the website of the Free Burma Rangers – an organisation helping people hiding in the jungle. Please be warned that this link will take you to some disturbing pictures of the attacks, including the bodies of people who have been killed.
http://www.freeburmarangers.org/Reports/20060419.html#2

The EU cannot be allowed to stand by while such atrocities are committed. We need the EU to take a strong stance against the regime. We need more countries in the EU to push for stronger EU action. If you live in Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovenia, Greece or Hungary and would be interested in supporting a campaign in your country please send us your name and address. Send to mark.farmaner@burmacampaign.org.uk.

TAKE ACTION AGAINST TOTAL OIL!
Protest against Total Oil – the largest European investor in Burma, Friday 12th May. On this day there will be an international day of action against Total Oil. In the UK there will be a demonstration outside Total Oils HQ, from 12.30-1.30pm. 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G OPW. Nearest tube: Oxford Circus. To find out if there is a protest in your country visit and click on the link for the campaign in your country: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/links.html.