Burma Briefing No. 6: Aung San Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi has now spent more than 15 years in detention, most of it under house arrest. According to Burmese law, she must be released from her current period of detention on Saturday 13th November.

World leaders regularly express support for Aung San Suu Kyi and the struggle for human rights and democracy in Burma. However, when it comes to acting on requests from Aung San Suu Kyi for practical international support, they have been less forthcoming.

This briefing provides recommendations for action from the international community, whether or not Aung San Suu Kyi is released on 13th November […]

Burmese Political Prisoner In Election Protest Hunger Strike

Kyaw Kyaw Naing, a jailed member of the National League for Democracy, has gone on hunger strike to protest against sham elections being held today in Burma, according to Burma Campaign UK sources[…]

David Cameron Raises Burma With Chinese Premier – Will Also Raise With Obama

Burma Campaign UK today welcomed British Prime Minister David Cameron raising the situation in Burma during his meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao […]

New Burma Government Does Not Have to Include Any Elected MPs

As Burma’s generals today hold fake elections, Burma Campaign UK publishes a new briefing detailing how Burma’s generals have brought in a new constitution which sidelines Parliament and makes it impossible for MPs in the new Parliament to introduce any genuine democratic reforms.

• There is no requirement for a single member of Burma’s new government to be elected in elections on 7th November.
• There will be a Presidential, not Parliamentary form of government.
• The President must come from the military, either a former or serving soldier.
• The President is not accountable to Parliament.
• Government ministers are not accountable to Parliament.
• Real democratic reforms require constitutional reform, which is impossible without the military agreeing to it […]

16 Burma Pro-Democracy Organizations host a London rally and a peaceful march to condemn Burma’s sham election

Today, 16 Burma pro-democracy organizations including all ethnic organizations, based in the United Kingdom, organize a London rally and a peaceful march to condemn sham elections in Burma on 7 November 2010, urging the international community to reject the result of regime’s fake elections and support our call for a UN-led effort to secure genuine tripartite dialogue in Burma […]

Burma Briefing No. 5: Burma’s Fake Election and the Post-Election Structure

While the international community has focused primarily on the process of the elections, this briefing analyses not only how the election process is unfair, but also how the military have brought in a new constitution which renders parliament powerless to bring in genuine democratic reform without military consent […]

Aung San Suu Kyi Reaches 15 Years in Detention

As Aung San Suu Kyi today reaches a total of 15 years in detention, Burma Campaign UK called for urgent international pressure to force Burma’s dictatorship to unconditionally release her on 13th November. Aung San Suu Kyi’s current period of detention expires on November 13th, following her being placed under house arrest after a sham trial in August 2009. Although there was an international outcry at the time, no concrete action was taken to try to secure her release […]

UN Burma Expert Warns General Assembly: Failing To Act On Crimes Will ‘Embolden’ Regime

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Burma has warned the United Nations General Assembly that: “Failing to act on accountability in Myanmar will embolden the perpetrators of international crimes and further postpone long-overdue justice.”

In a hard-hitting new report made public on 18th October, the Special Rapporteur repeats his call for a UN Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma […]

ASEM Backs Release Of Political Prisoners And UN Action On Burma

Burma Campaign UK today welcomed the ASEM statement on Burma as a sign that European and Asian countries are not being fooled by the Burmese dictatorship’s promises that elections will bring significant change in Burma […]

Aung San Suu Kyi Release? We’ll Believe It When We See It

Burma Campaign UK today expressed caution following reports that Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma’s democracy movement, could be released after the elections.

An unnamed official has reportedly told the AFP news agency that her release will happen after the elections. According to Burmese law, Aung San Suu Kyi should be released on November 13th. The United Nations has repeatedly ruled that her detention breaks international law […]