For Immediate Release:

(Photos, map and additional information from Free Burma Rangers and CIDKP are enclosed and attached)

February 10th, 2010
Contact: Jennifer Quigley (732) 606-7508

(Washington, DC and Bangkok) While Burma’s military regime has been trying to disarm ethnic ceasefire groups at the China-Burma border with its so-called “Border Guard Force” plan, its soldiers have escalated military offensives against ethnic Karen people in eastern Burma this week, destroying not only villages but also a vital mobile health clinic, that sent thousands of villagers and health workers fleeing for their lives.

At 9:00 am on February 8, 2010, 200 soldiers of the regime (from Light Infantry Battalions No. 362 and 367, under No. 10 Military Operational Command) attacked Tee Mu Ta Village in Nyang Lay Bin District, destroying a mobile health clinic and 38 homes of internally displaced families.  Following this, at 6:00 pm on the same day, the regime soldiers continued on to K’Dee Mu Der village and burned the village of 15 homes, a middle school, and a nursery school.  In total, because of these attacks, 50 families from Tee Mu Ta and 30 families from K’Dee Mu Der villages have been forced to flee and are now hiding in the jungle.  Both villages are approximately 100 kilometers from the Thailand-Burma border, the equivalent of a 4-5 day journey by foot across hilly terrain (see attached map).

These attacks follow the previously reported attacks last month on ten villages in Nyang Lay Bin District by Burmese soldiers, in which 4 villagers were shot, one decapitated, sending at least 2000 villagers into hiding (see attached information and photos).

Denial and destruction of health services provided by back-packed health workers, is a key component to the military regime’s ethnic cleansing campaign. For years, humanitarian aid organizations have been denied access to ethnic minority areas of Burma and community-based health workers are routinely targeted by the regime soldiers. Aung Din, Executive Director of the U.S. Campaign for Burma said: “Mobile health clinics are always targeted by the regime’s troops because they provide life-saving services to Karen and other ethnic minority villagers, who are under continuous and inhumane attack by the regime. This is a clear violation of the Geneva Conventions and the principal of medical neutrality, further evidence of the regime’s crimes against humanity and war crimes.”

Although the clinic was burned to the ground by the regime soldiers, clinic staff, in hiding with the displaced villagers, is courageously continuing to provide essential services, which include malaria control, treatment to landmine victims, and clean delivery.  In addition to essential medical services, the attack has disrupted the clinic’s village health worker program, malaria control program, reproductive health program, and vitamin A and deworming program for the community. These brave health workers and villagers continue to be at risk of further attacks by the Burmese army.

Aung Din states: “These attacks are further evidence of the urgent need for the United Nations to take effective action to stop war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma, perpetrated by the regime with impunity.”

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• FBR REPORT: Photos of Families Fleeing, Burma Army, and a Villager Killed (1 February, 2010)
• FBR REPORT: Photos from One of the Areas (Kweh Der, Ler Doh) Attacked by Burma Army (29 January, 2010)
• FBR REPORT: Update of Burma Army attacks, murders, displacements and forced labor in Karen state (21 January, 2010)
  

It is with sadness in our hearts that we share with you the loss of Naw Louisa Benson Craig, an inspirational Karen leader and invaluable member of the U.S. Campaign for Burma family. Yesterday, February 2nd, 2010, Louisa passed away after a long battle with cancer. Our sincerest condolences go out to her family and friends during this difficult time.

Louisa Benson Craig was a truly inspirational role model. For decades, Louisa dedicated herself to both the movement for a free and democratic Burma and the health, safety and betterment of displaced Karen in Burma and around the world. Although Louisa had resettled in the United States, she never wavered in her commitment to the Karen people and the Free Burma movement. During her time as a leader of the Burma Forum and a Board Member of the U.S. Campaign for Burma, Louisa Benson Craig admirably represented the Karen Community, demonstrating a passion and commitment to ethnic unity and democracy in Burma. Louisa understood the unique and arduous challenges that newly resettled Karen refugees face in the U.S., and admirably rose to the challenge by helping found the Karen American Community Foundation.

Louisa has set the standard by which all members of the Free Burma Movement strive to achieve, unrelenting compassion for her Karen brothers and sisters, unwavering devotion to the ideals of an ethnically diverse but unified and democratic Burma, and the optimistic determination that by working together we can make a difference.

It has been an honor to have Louisa Benson Craig as part of the U.S. Campaign for Burma family. Her decades of service to the free Burma movement and plight of the Karen people has brought much needed attention, hope and inspiration to those of us who will continue the struggle for a free and democratic Burma.

Contact:
Yuki Akimoto (BurmaInfo) in Tokyo: +81 (80) 2006 0165
Aung Din (U.S. Campaign for Burma) in Washington, DC: +1 (202) 234 8022

(December 10, 2009, Tokyo and Washington, DC) Tokyo-based “BurmaInfo,” “People’s Forum on Burma,” and Washington, DC-based “U.S. Campaign for Burma” today welcome the call of 442 Members of Parliament (MPs) around the world to the United Nations Security Council to establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity and other war crimes in Burma, as well as to impose a global arms embargo on Burma’s military regime.

On the 61st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 442 MPs and
Congresspersons from 29 countries from Asia, Europe, North and South America, including Japan, United States, United Kingdom, France, India, Korea, Brazil, Maldives, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand, sent a letter to Members of the UN Security Council. The letter was initiated by two MPs from Japan, Hon. Azuma Konno and Hon. Tadashi Inuzuka, both members of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan. Although their governments have different policies toward Burma, all the MPs are deeply concerned about the humanitarian conditions in Burma, also known as Myanmar, and collectively ask the Members of the Security Council to take action as it did for similar conditions in Rwanda and Darfur.

Specifically, the MPs request the Security Council to pass a resolution to establish a Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma and to impose a global arms embargo on Burma’s military regime. As Hon. Azuma Konno points out, “Such action is long overdue. Burma’s military regime has carried out brutal attacks on it own people for decades.”

Indeed, through attacks on ethnic minority civilians, the regime has destroyed over 3,500 ethnic minority villages in eastern Burma since 1996. A recent report by Harvard Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic found compelling evidence that the military regime has been committing crimes against humanity in eastern Burma for well over a decade.

“This letter demonstrates that the eyes of the world are on Burma and that we will call attention to the continued human rights violations perpetrated by the military regime. The destruction of villages and ethnic cleansing must stop. I am proud to stand with so many freely elected leaders from around the world to call for the regime to respect the rights of the people of Burma and to cease the senseless violence.” added Hon. Joseph Pitts, Member of U.S. House of Representatives.

This appeal follows similar calls made earlier this year by fellow MPs from the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. On June 15, 2009, 55 Members of U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to President Obama, urging the President to encourage the UN Security Council to set up a Commission of Inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity in Burma. Further, 82 MPs from Canada made a similar request to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.N. Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon on October 9, 2009. Most recently, on November 26, 2009, an Early Day Motion was tabled at the British Parliament which has since been signed by 92 British MPs, calling on the British Government to urge the United Nations to establish a Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity being committed by the military regime in Burma. # # #

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### Enclosed: Letter to the United Nations Security Council

Immediate Press Release:

Washington, DC: October 23, 2009
Media Contact: Jennifer Quigley at (202) 234 8022

Honoring Burma’s Democracy Icon on Her 14^th Year in Detention and Highlighting Suffering of Ethnic Minorities in Burma

Supporters Mark Burma’s Democracy Hero’s 14^th Year in Detention with Hope for a Brighter Future

(Washington, DC: October 23, 2009) Tomorrow, on October 24, 2009, the leader of Burma’s democracy movement and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi will spend her 14^th cumulative year under house arrest.  In August of this year, Burma’s military regime, ruling the Southeast Asia country with guns and threats, extended her detention for 18 months, well beyond 2010 when it is planning to hold a election to put their sham constitution, designed to build a permanent military dictatorship, into effect.

Although she has been in isolation for 14 out of the last 20 years, Aung San Suu Kyi remains the hope of the people of Burma, the key to national reconciliation and democratization in Burma and an icon of democracy among freedom loving people around the world.

In honor of her sacrifice and leadership on behalf of the people of Burma, as well her principle of non-violence, U.S. Campaign for Burma has organized over 130 events throughout the United States, in which a documentary film, entitled “Crossing Midnight” will be screened. Set on the Thailand-Burma border, “Crossing Midnight” tells the story of a remarkable community of health workers and teachers in the face of incredible odds working to help ethnic minority villagers, who are continually displaced by Burmese army attacks and in dire need of protection, food and shelter.  In this 30-minute long documentary, Director Kim Snyder demonstrates these selfless social workers offer not only assistance to the people but also hope to the next generation.

These events will be held in 33 states throughout America from October 24 to November 1, 2009, the week is named “Ignite for Burma Week”. About 60 Universities and Colleges, including the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth College, Pepperdine University and American University, over 35 churches and 35 communities will participate in a-week long event. The presentation of the film is part of a growing awareness campaign about the plight of Burma’s ethnic minorities.

As part of the events, participants will gather signatures on a petition to U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Susan Rice that calls for the Security Council to action to prevent further crimes against humanity inside Burma.  Already about 10,000 have signed the petition.

“From these events, we try to educate people more about the struggle for freedom and democracy led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the decades-long suffering of ethnic nationalities under the brutal military regime,” says Aung Din, Executive Director of U.S. Campaign for Burma. “Without addressing the situation of the ethnic nationalities, national reconciliation in Burma will never be realized and civil war will never end,” continues Aung Din.

Burma’s military regime is among the world’s most brutal dictators, locking up over 2,100 political prisoners while carrying out a scorched-earth war on ethnic minority civilians.  A recent report by Harvard Law School’s International Human Rights Law Clinic found compelling evidence the regime is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity under a climate of impunity.  Five leading judges that commissioned the report called for the UN Security Council to establish a Commission of Inquiry into crimes in Burma, and cited earlier efforts to establish the International Criminal Tribunals on Rwanda and Yugoslavia.

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U.S. Campaign for Burma
1444 N Street, NW, #A2
Washington 20005
Tel: (202) 234 8022
Fax: (202) 234 8044
info@uscampaignforburma.org
www.uscampaignforburma.org

Dozens of Buddhist Monks to Attend U.S. Senate Burma Hearing

Burmese Monks in Exile Harshly Critical of U.S. Senator Jim Webb, Written Testimony Attached

September 30th, 2009

Contact: Jeremy Woodrum at (202) 234 8022 (or) (202) 246 7924

(Washington, DC) In a sign of protest against U.S. Senator Jim Webb, dozens of Buddhist monks will attend a hearing on U.S. Burma policy that will be chaired by Webb in the Senate on Wednesday, September 30th at 2:30 pm in room #419 at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC.

Webb was recently defeated in his drive to unilaterally lift U.S. sanctions on Burma’s military regime, after the State Department and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that the United States would maintain sanctions on Burma unless the country’s military regime made concrete steps toward democracy.

Webb has been harshly criticized by Burma’s Buddhist monks, whom led the country’s 2007 Saffron Revolution in which hundreds of thousands of Burmese monks and everyday citizens organized major demonstrations calling for an end to military rule in the country.  Webb has been dismissive of the monks, despite their integral role in Burmese society, flippantly referring to monks who led the Saffron Revolution as a “throng” in his book “A Time to Fight”.

Prominent Buddhist Monk Ashin Pinyar Zawta, responding to Webb in the Huffington Post, called Webb “extremely manipulative,” saying that “Luckily for the Burmese people, Webb is not the only US senator.  Webb is now despised by the people of Burma. If he succeeds in achieving a shift in US policy to abandon sanctions, he will have secured his place in history as one of the most important supporters of Than Shwe’s military dictatorship.”

To read full op-ed, see:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/u-pyinya-zawta/jim-webb-woefully-unaware_b_273166.html

The day after the hearing, popular music band U2 will host a major music concert in Webb’s home state of Virginia.  At the event, grassroots activists will collect thousands of signatures on petitions calling for Webb to stop calling for the lifting of pressure on Burma’s military regime before achieving tangible results.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appears to be fully supporting the calls of Burma’s Buddhist clergy instead of Webb, announcing through a policy review at the U.S. State Department that the United States will maintain sanctions on Burma while simultaneously opening a diplomatic dialogue with the regime.

Webb did not invite anyone from Burma’s democracy movement to testify at the Burma hearing — including no Buddhist monks or members of the political party of Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi.  Webb exclusively invited participants who share his views on Burma, preventing a full discussion of policy options on the country. With great disappointment for the absence of monks or members of Burma’s democracy movement in the hearing, two prominent monk groups, International Burmese Monks Organization (IBMO) and All Burma Monks’ Alliance (ABMA) have submitted written testimonies to Senator Webb. Testimonies of Burmese monks in exile are attached.

Burma’s military regime is among the world’s most brutal dictators, locking up over 2,000 political prisoners while carrying out a scorched-earth war on ethnic minority civilians.  A recent report by Harvard Law School’s International Human Rights Law Clinic found compelling evidence the regime is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.  Five leading judges that commissioned the report called for the UN Security Council to establish a Commission of Inquiry into crimes in Burma, and cited earlier efforts to establish the International Criminal Tribunals on Rwanda and Yugoslavia.

Webb has repeatedly compared the situation in Burma to Vietnam, a comparison that has been criticized as incorrect and ill-informed by the monks and international observers.

Contact: Jeremy  Woodrum (202) 246-7924

Obama Administration Supports Sanctions on Burma

(Washington, DC)  A leading United States-based human rights organization today welcomed the Obama Administration’s decision to maintain existing sanctions on Burma, as well as pursue further sanctions as circumstances warrant.  The State Department said that unilaterally lifting sanctions would send the wrong signal to Burma’s military regime, and that sanctions would only be lifted if the regime makes concrete changes.

“We strongly commend the Obama administration for its pledge to implement sanctions on Burma until there is concerete progress toward democracy and human rights,” said Aung Din, Executive Director of the U.S. Campaign for Burma.

The Obama administration today concluded a 7-month policy review aimed at invigorating U.S. policy toward Burma.  In addition to maintaining sanctions, the Administration said it would engage in a dialogue with the military regime aimed at a transition to democracy.

“High-level level talks with the military are a good thing,” added Aung Din. “However, this can not be a never-ending process.  There must be a timeframe and clear benchmarks for change, especially given the Burmese regime’s practice of engaging in never-ending diplomacy without any measurable results.”

While 66 U.S. Senators recently co-sponsored legislation renewing sanctions on Burma, a single U.S. Senator — Jim Webb (D-VA) — has called for the lifting of sanctions.   Through the policy review, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton  has rejected Webb’s approach, further saying “Engagement versus sanctions is a false choice.”

Activists Urge Governments to Act on Rape, Crimes in Burma at Upcoming United Nations Meetings
Using Rape as a Weapon of War Is Crime against Humanity

Contact: Jeremy Woodrum, (202) 246-7924

(Washington, DC and New York) A leading United States-based human rights organization today urged governments to press for action to end the Burmese military regime’s use of rape as a weapon of war, as well as other crimes against humanity, in meetings scheduled at the United Nations next week.

“Several bodies at the UN have documented the Burmese regime’s use of rape and other crimes against humanity, but to date no action has been taken by the international community,” said Aung Din, Executive Director of the U.S. Campaign for Burma.  “The upcoming meetings at the United Nations are the perfect opportunity to take action.”

The Washington Times reported that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will chair a special UN Security Council meeting on sexual violence at the end of this month, stating that Secretary Clinton, speaking of rape victims, said “These are crimes against humanity. They don’t just harm a single individual, or a single family, or village or group. They shred the fabric that weaves us together as human beings. This criminal outrage against women must be stopped.”  Clinton recently visited the Democratic Republic of Congo where she met with survivors of military-sponsored rape.

The Security Council meeting on September 30th will review implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1820, which was adopted in June 2008 and named sexual violence as a threat to international peace and security.  A follow-up resolution is being considered at the Security Council to strengthen implementation of 1820.

However, it is unclear whether the discussion will focus exclusively on rape and sexual violence in Africa or if Council members will call attention to the widespread and systematic use of rape as a weapon of war in Burma as well.  Activists hope that Secretary Clinton and other international leaders will use the UN venue to highlight the plight of ethnic women and girls in Burma, who are victims of sexual violence by Burma’s military regime.

Nearly all relevant bodies and experts in United Nations have reported on widespread and systematic rape and sexual violence perpetrated by the military regime in Burma under a climate of impunity. These include:

1) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon;
2) UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;
3) UN Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights in Burma
4) UN General Assembly;
5) UN Commission on Human Rights (now Human Rights Council);
6) UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women;
7) UN Special Rapportuer on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment

Despite repeated and consistent verbal condemnations by UN officials and resolutions since 2002, the rapes and sexual violence have continued with impunity in Burma.  Previous cases, cited by several United Nations Special Rapporteurs, include those such as:

“Ms. Naang Khin, aged 22, and her sister, Ms. Naang Lam, aged 19, were reportedly raped by a patrol of SPDC troops from Lai-Kha-based Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 515 on 16th October 2003, when they were reaping rice at their farm in Wan Zing village tract (in Shan State).  Their father was tied up to a tree.  Afterwards, the two sisters were taken to a forest by the troops.  Their dead bodies were found by villagers some days later dumped in a hole.”

A November 2008 report by the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women cited the continuance of such rapes by soldiers of the Burmese military regime, stating that “[CEDAW] expresses its deep concern at the high prevalence of sexual and others forms of violence, including rape, perpetrated by members of the armed forces against rural ethnic women.”  The Committee added that there had been no justice for victims, expressing its concern at “the apparent impunity of the perpetrators of such violence… [and regrets] the lack of information on mechanisms and remedies available to victims of sexual violence as well as measures to bring perpetrators to justice.”

In 2009, in yet another of many rapes, Burmese military commander Khin Maung Hsit raped two young women in Karen State, ordering them to perform massages on them before telling them to strip their clothing so he could rape them.

The UN Torture Rapporteur, yet another UN expert, adds that “The [Burmese] authorities sanction violence against women and girls committed by military officers, including torture, inter alia, as a means of terrorizing and subjugating the population, particularly those in the Shan state.”

The Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma has called the rapes “particularly alarming,” and indicated that he had received reports of “widespread and systematic” abuses — key language in establishing the existence of crimes against humanity.

“The United Nations already has all the information it needs to include Burma in its quest to implement Security Council Resolution 1820,” added Aung Din.  “The UN knows this is happening.  Now, the question is, will governments speak out and ask the Security Council to take action on Burma or continue to remain silent?”##
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U.S. Campaign for Burma
1444 N Street, NW, #A2, Washington 20005, Tel: (202) 234 8022, Fax: (202) 234 8044
info@uscampaignforburma.org, www.uscampaignforburma.org

U.S.  C A M P A I G N   F O R   B U R M A

For Immediate Release, August 28th, 2009
Contact: Jeremy Woodrum, 202-246-7924

Massive Flight of Refugees from Burma

Activists Call for Immediate United States Action, End to Crimes Against Humanity

(Washington, DC) A leading U.S based human rights group today called on the United States to lead action at the UN Security Council to stop attacks on ethnic minorities in Burma that have led to the flight of 30,000 refugees from Burma to China in recent days.

“This is the largest refugee flow from Burma in years,” said Aung Din, Executive Director of U.S. Campaign for Burma.  “The United States should immediately press the United Nations Security Council to intervene to stop the fighting, and if they don’t, it is going to get much worse.  Burma’s regime is going to crush all ethnic minorities who do not submit to their rule and civilians are going to pay a very heavy price. The UN must pressure the regime to stop the violence and start negotiating with democracy forces led by Aung San Suu Kyi, and ethnic representatives for a peaceful solution.”

The cause of the conflict is linked directly to the Burmese military regime’s new constitution, which aims to force all ethnic minorities in Burma to submit to military rule.  “We have been saying for some time that the new constitution is a recipe for war and instability and since the international community has shamefully ignored the situation, now that is coming true,” added Aung Din.

The office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees has estimated that 30,000 people have fled from Burma this month.  Yet, to date, Western governments have largely remained silent on the matter.

The attacks come after a new report commissioned by five of the world’s leading judges and jurists and written by the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School, which compiled documentation from existing United Nations documents showing that Burma’s military regime is likely committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.  The military regime has destroyed or forced the abandonment of as many villages as in the Darfur region of Sudan – yet, the international community has not yet pursued action on the crimes.  The commissioners included judges who had earlier served at the International Criminal Tribunals on Rwanda and Yugoslavia and who now are calling for the UN Security Council to establish an official inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma.

At the same time, the governments of the United Kingdom and France have called for a global arms embargo on Burma’s military regime.

The attacks by the military regime are just beginning.  The regime seeks to stop all ethnic resistance in areas inhabited by millions of people before elections scheduled for 2010.  “As long as the world sits on its hands, this is only going to grow much, much worse,” added Aung Din. ##
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U.S. Campaign for Burma
1444 N Street, NW Suite #A2
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: (202) 234 8022
Fax: (202) 234 8044
info@uscampaignforburma.org
www.uscampaignforburma.org

Global Arms Embargo, Action on Crimes against Humanity, Financial Freeze Urged

(Washington, DC) A leading U.S.-based activist group, the U.S. Campaign for Burma, today condemned the sentencing and continued detention of the world’s only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi.  She was found guilty by the military regime that rules the Southeast Asian country of Burma, along with her two women colleagues.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been held under house arrest for nearly 14 years of the past 20 years, was sentenced to three years in prison, and later commuted to 18 months of house arrest by the military regime’s kangaroo court system today after an apparently disturbed American man broke into her home where she has been held under house arrest continuously since 2003.  Her home – a restricted area in Burma — is heavily guarded by the regime’s security forces.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s arrest and trial have been met with widespread international condemnation, including from the United Nations Security Council, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, United States, European Union, and key world leaders such as U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. President Barack Obama.  Criticism from Burma’s Asian neighbors such as Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines contrasts previous tentativeness from the group.

Joining world leaders, 11 Nobel Peace Prize recipients including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, and President Jose Ramos Horta of Timor-Leste (East Timor) called for a global arms embargo on Burma.  Celebrities including Anjelica Huston, Ani Difranco, George Clooney, David Beckham, Bono, and many more also have joined the global campaign to free Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma.

At the same time, activists are urging the world community to move beyond verbal condemnation and adopt concrete policy measures aimed at the military regime, including a global arms embargo, an investigation into crimes against humanity in Burma, and the imposition of money laundering rules which permit the United States to freeze overseas bank accounts that may hold the military regime’s money.

“The United States, and United Kingdom should move to both propose a global arms embargo on Burma’s military regime as well as launch an investigation into the regime’s crimes against humanity, since they chair the Security Council in August and September,” said Aung Din, executive director of the U.S. Campaign for Burma, who spent four years behind bars as a political prisoner in Burma.

“Aung San Suu Kyi’s imprisonment makes it clear the Burmese regime has rejected meaningful political negotiations offered by Aung San Suu Kyi, her party and Burma’s ethnic nationalities. The regime also proved again that it does not care about verbal statements from the international community, and will continue to commit crimes against humanity, with impunity, as long as the international community fails to take concrete action,” added Aung Din.

Burma’s military regime depends on China, Russia, North Korea, and others for much of its international weapons trade – weapons used to strengthen and modernize its 400,000 member military.  The country has no external enemies, and uses weapons almost exclusively against its own people.

A growing push for an investigation into crimes against humanity committed by the Burmese military regime received a major push when a respected former United Nations official charged with examining human rights in Burma, Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, penned an opinion piece in the New York Times calling on the UN Security Council to establish a Commission of Inquiry that would investigate crimes against humanity in Burma.  [See: “End Burma’s System of Impunity”, New York Times, May 27th, 2009, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/opinion/28iht-edpineiro.html]. Pinheiro stated: “The Security Council took similar steps with regard to Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. The situation in Myanmar is equally as critical.”

The move came one week after Harvard Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic released a report, commissioned by a group of the world’s leading judges and jurists, which made a similar call for action.  The report, entitled “Crimes in Burma”, found evidence which strongly suggested the regime had committed both crimes against humanity and war crimes in its attacks on ethnic minorities in the country.  The report found that the UN had already received evidence alleging the military regime had destroyed over 3,000 ethnic minority villages and forcing at least one million civilians to flee their homes as refugees and internally displaced.  The UN had also obtained information documenting the regime’s use of rape as a weapon of war as well as prolific forced labor, a modern-day form of slave labor.  Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have already stated that crimes against humanity and war crimes are taking place under military rule.

Aung San Suu Kyi is not only an imprisoned human rights activist. She led her political party, the National League for Democracy, to win 82% of the seats in parliament in Burma’s last democratic election.  The ruling military regime refused to permit the electoral winners to convene a new government.

“There is a great deal the world can do, and the United States in particular has tools at its disposal. It will be much more difficult for China to defend a veto of action at the UN Security Council now that it is clear that crimes against humanity have already been documented within the UN system,” added Aung Din.  “And, the United States can do more to freeze the funds of the military regime – this is something the U.S. can do on its own.”  # # #
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U.S. Campaign for Burma
1444 N Street, NW Suite #A2
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: (202) 234 8022
Fax: (202) 234 8044
info@uscampaignforburma.org
www.uscampaignforburma.org