Received today fro, The Burma Campaign:

Dear friends
Last week we wrote to you with the very disturbing news about a new military offensive the regime has launched against civilians in Karen state. With the violence escalating, we are calling on the UN Security Council to act. If you are able, please join us at a demonstration outside the Burmese embassy on 16 May.

Thank you.

UN SECURITY COUNCIL MUST ACT TO STOP ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS IN EASTERN BURMA Over the past week more than 11,000 people in Karen State have been forced to flee their villages, and the number is rising every day in the the worst offensive by Burma’s junta since 1997. According to the Thai authorities, almost 2,000 have fled to the Thai border where they are living under plastic sheets in a temporary camp. But thousands more are being hunted in the jungle, without basic food, medicine or shelter. As the Burma Army seeks out ethnic armed resistance groups in the areas East of the new Burmese capital, Pyinmana, they have been pushing innocent villagers into forced relocation camps, turning villages into ‘free-fire’ zones, kidnapping people for forced labour, burning and stealing food stocks, shooting and killing indiscriminately, raping, torturing, and laying landmines.

We cannot allow this to continue. It is time for the UN Security Council to take action to stop these attacks.

There will be a global day of action on May 16th to stop the violence in eastern Burma and demand UN Security Council action.

In the UK we will be holding a demonstration outside the Burmese Embassy on 16 May from 12.30pm to 2pm:
19A Charles Street
Berkeley Square
London W1J 5DX

Nearest tube: Green Park

To find out if there is a protest in your country visit and click on the link for the campaign in your country click here.