Aung San Suu Kyi is released.
For this we give thanks and celebrate.
But …the fight continues for the release of the other 2202 political prisoners held in Burma.

The Burmese generals may be releasing Aung San Suu Kyi as a publicity stunt, to detract from their sham elections last week … but the west can continue with pressure to ensure real freedom is reinstated within Burma.

Please don’t think the campaign is over. Please continue to support the wrok of Free Burma UK … now is a key time from which real transformation could occur.

p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 15.0px Arial}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 15.0px Arial; color: #154eae}
p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 15.0px Arial; min-height: 17.0px}
span.s1 {text-decoration: underline}
span.s2 {color: #000000}

There are reports coming from Burma that Aung San Sui Kyi is about to be released. Her detention expires on Saturday 13 November and under Burmese law she should be released. 

p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 15.0px Arial}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 15.0px Arial; min-height: 17.0px}
p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 15.0px Arial; color: #154eae}
span.s1 {text-decoration: underline ; color: #154eae}
span.s2 {text-decoration: underline}
span.s3 {color: #000000}

(As many of you know my father is Burmese and since knowing that I have had a great interest in this country. Please respond to this and get involved in altering this massively horrible injustice)

Dear friend

I am 21 years old and a refugee from Burma. I work as a Campaigns Officer for the Burma Campaign UK.

On Saturday 16th October 2010 at the O2 Arena in London I am doing a 160 feet bungee jump. I am scared of heights and I am fearful about the jump.

But my fear is nothing compared to what my father, Mya Aye, the more than 2,100 political prisoners in Burma and of course, Aung San Suu Kyi have gone through.

I want to raise money for the Burma Campaign UK so that we can campaign to free all political prisoners in the country. Please support me in my jump by sponsoring me now.

My father is in jail for trying to get freedom and democracy for his people. He was arrested over three years ago, at the start of the democracy uprising, which became known as the “Saffron Revolution”. He is serving a 65 year prison sentence because he wants what you and I want – democracy and freedom in Burma.

When I think of my father in jail I cry. I feel like I will never see him again. Like any daughter, I love my father – but I am also very proud of what he has done to stand up for the people of Burma.

That is why I am telling you my story and need to ask you to please to sponsor my jump for the Burma Campaign UK now.

My father was one of the leaders of the democracy uprising in 1988 and he was in prison then for 8 years. He was in jail when I was born in 1989 and the first time I saw him was through iron bars in Insein prison. I was a little girl, just four years old.

I grew up without my father, and now I face the possibility of never seeing him again. I am determined not to let this happen. I know that together, we can work to free the prisoners if we can put enough pressure on the generals, but I need your help. Please support our campaign – please sponsor me now

Thank you.
Wai Hnin

Aung San Suu Kyi will be spending her 65th birthday in detention today.

She has spent almost 15 years in detention since 1989. The exact time shehas spent in detention will be 14 years and 238 days. The United Nations hasrepeatedly ruled that her detention breaks international law.

The UN General Assembly, UN Security Council, UN Human Rights Council,European Union, USA and Asian countries have all said the UN should work tofacilitate negotiations between the dictatorship, Aung San Suu Kyi¹sNational League for Democracy, and ethnic groups.

However, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is not actively working to make this happen.

Please take action now to get Ban Ki-moon to take action on Burma.

You can also make a donation to support our campaign to free Aung San Suu Kyi here.

Thank you for your support.

Anna
Burma Campaign UK

This news report shows that your emails and letters to MP’s do make a difference.
Finally, the UK government has done the right thing and is backing calls for Burma’s leaders to be referred to the war crimes tribunal.
This is a major step forward and will be welcomed by those who can only dream of freedom in Burma. It’s really important that the Burmese generals are not allowed to think the world has forgotten the daily atrocities that these men oversee.
Keep your emails going and your prayers flowing!

Burma’s dictatorship have finally published laws governing so-called elections later this year. The new laws ban Aung San Suu Kyi from taking part in the elections, as she has a conviction following the sham trial last year after an American man swam to her house. The Burma Campaign UK is calling on the United Nations Security Council to take action, as even countries sympathetic to the generals can no longer claim the elections will be free and fair. You can view our media release here.

Campaign Success! – UN Burma Expert Backs Calls For Inquiry Into War Crimes
The UN Special Rapporteur on Burma has called for a UN Commission of Inquiry into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma. For years the regime has been raping and killing civilians, recruiting child soldiers, and using hundreds of thousands of people as slave labour. Now we need to persuade the British government to support the call for a UN inquiry.

Take Action:
If you live in the UK, you can write to your MP asking them to sign a Parliamentary motion calling on the government to support an inquiry. Already 178 MPs have backed the motion.

A few moments of your time could transform the lives of others!

Some people have asked if I think writing letters or sending emails on behalf of the Burmese people really does make a difference. I believe it does (or I would not be involved) but this feedback email from the Burma Campaign UK is evidence that we can, and do, make a difference. if you have not responded yet … please do!

Last week we emailed you asking for your help in persuading the governmentof Thailand not to forcibly deport 3,000 ethnic Karen refugees back toBurma, to an area covered in landmines.

We asked you to email the Thai Prime Minister and the local governor. BurmaCampaign UK also contacted governments, MPs and media to let them know whatwas happening, ask them to lobby the Thai government, and report on the situation.

On Friday morning Thai authorities started the deportations, sending three  families back to Burma, but then halted them. The reason for halting the deportations was undoubtedly the international attention being paid to what they were doing. Thousands of people answered our request and sent emails to the Thai Prime Minister and the local governor. Media, including The Independent, reported on what was going on, and European governments also called on Thailand to halt the deportations.

Now we have heard further good news, the three families who were forced back to Burma were able to return to the temporary refugee camp in Thailand yesterday.

This crisis campaign is a great example of how we can all work together, Burma Campaign groups, individuals, working with and supporting Karen organisations defending their people.  Together we have made a difference, and no doubt saved lives and prevented horrific injuries. Thank you for your support.

However, the danger is not completely over yet. Local soldiers have still been pressuring the refugees to agree to return, and no permanent solution has yet been agreed that means the refugees are safe and secure. Senior level meetings involving Karen organisations and government officials are being held in Thailand to try to find a solution.

Burma Campaign UK will continue to watch the situation closely, and be ready to act if need be to try to prevent any further deportations.

A full briefing is available here.

The Independent article can be viewed here.

The Burma Campaign UK depends on donations from the public to carry out our vital work. You can donate online.

Thank you again for your support.

Anna Roberts
The Burma Campaign UK

As an explanation to newcomers to this blog – I found out quite late in my life (30ish) that my natural father is Burmese. While researching  the country I became aware of the situation there and find myself having a real passion to see justice come in this land. Please read and act if you are able. If you have no idea what is happening in Burma, then check out the this website.

Dear friend

‘Burma VJ’ tells the remarkable story of the brave young video journalists who, using hidden cameras, put their lives on the line to tell the real story of the 2007 uprising in Burma and the subsequent crackdown by the ruling military regime. They now face up to 65 years in prison for simply recording the events in the film.

Enter our prize draw to win your copy
Burma VJ is released on DVD next month and now you have the chance to enter our prize draw to win your own copy of this gripping documentary.

To enter the draw please go here.
Winners will also receive a Burma VJ poster along with their DVD.

The film has won awards from the Sundance film Festival, Amnesty International and the Berlin film festival, and has been short-listed for the Oscars. You can find out more on the website.
To buy Burma VJ DVD, visit the shop here.

Burma VJ on More 4
Burma VJ will be shown on More 4 (UK only):
10pm Tuesday 27th January
2am Wednesday 28th January

Best wishes
Anna Roberts
Burma Campaign UK