Hague’s Rose-Tinted View Of Burma Undermines Human Rights

As former General Thein Sein, President of Burma, prepares to visit the UK later this week, Burma Campaign UK today launches a campaign calling on Foreign Secretary William Hague to stop taking a rose-tinted view of the situation in Burma, arguing that it undermines progress on improving human rights. Burma Campaign UK supporters are being asked to send a pair of rose-tinted glasses to the Foreign Secretary […]

Activist Jailed For Ploughing On Confiscated Land – Free Aung Soe!

Burma Campaign UK today strongly urged Hugo Swire MP, British Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for Burma, to pressure the military-backed government in Burma to repeal all repressive laws and release all remaining political prisoners immediately.

Regardless of the changes in Burma, almost all the repressive laws which enabled the jailing of political prisoners still remain in place. The unconditional release of all political prisoners is an essential step towards genuine democracy and freedom in Burma […]

UK Says Investigation Required Into Ethnic Cleansing of Rohingya

Burma Campaign UK today welcomed a statement by Foreign Office Minister Baroness Warsi, that ‘independent investigative work’ is required ‘for an informed assessment as to whether ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity have been committed.’ However, words need to be turned into action or they will simply amount […]

Burma’s Forgotten Political Prisoners

This briefing paper contains case studies of 6 political prisoners who were arbitrarily arrested by the military-backed government in Burma. It also looks at how the review committee for political prisoners set up by the Burmese government is flawed, highlights the continued existence of almost all repressive laws, and how the release of political prisoners has been tactically used by the Burmese government to persuade […]

Thein Sein Again Uses Political Prisoners As PR Tools

Following reports that 23 political prisoners are being released today, just hours before Thein Sein leaves for a trip to the USA where he is due to meet president Obama in the White House, Burma Campaign UK accused President Thein Sein of blatantly using political prisoner releases as PR tools […]

Action Needed On Humanitarian Aid Restrictions In Burma

As Cyclone Mahasen threatens millions of people in Bangladesh and Burma, including tens of thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Rakhine State, Burma Campaign UK today called on the British government and international community to take action to force President Thein Sein to allow unrestricted humanitarian aid […]

Former Political Prisoner Forced To Serve Old Prison Sentence

Burma Campaign UK today expressed extreme concern that political activist Nay Myo Zin is being forced to serve his old prison sentence after being convicted on a new charge. He is the first former political prisoner to be put back in prison to serve his old prison sentence after his conditional release under a presidential amnesty in 2012 […]

Labour Activist Jailed For Cutting Down A Tree

A labour activist has been jailed for 7 and half years after being falsely accused of cutting down trees.

Burma Campaign UK today urged Hugo Swire MP, British Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for Burma to do more to push the military-backed government in Burma to release Myint Soe and all remaining political prisoners in Burma […]

Tun Aung Sentence Increased By Six Years

Political prisoner Tun Aung has had his prison sentence increased by six years, despite British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire MP asking Burmese government ministers for his release.

The decision of the Burmese government to take court action to increase his sentence raises yet more doubts about British government claims that by befriending the government of Burma they will have more influence to improve human rights […]

EU Abandons Burma’s Political Prisoners – Downgrades Human Rights

European Union members have abandoned hundreds of political prisoners and downgraded human rights as a priority in Burma, following their decision to lift all sanctions on Burma except arms.

The EU suspended sanctions on April 26th 2012, in recognition of changes that had taken place in Burma. At the time the decision to suspend the sanctions was controversial […]