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

For Immediate Release: September 25th, 2008

Contact: Aung Din (301) 602-0077

On Anniversary of Crackdown on Monks, Americans Hold 200 Events For Change
in Burma

Saffron Revolution Spawns Global Action

(Washington, DC) On the one-year anniversary of the Burmese military
regime’s violent crackdown on peacefully demonstrating Buddhist monks that
landed on the front page of newspapers worldwide, American human rights
activists have organized over 200 events demanding global action for change
in Burma.

In September 2007, thousands of Buddhist monks took to the streets of Burma,
calling for an end to decades of military dictatorship in a movement labeled
the “Saffron Revolution”.  The monks also called for the release of
imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi and all political
prisoners in Burma.

Than Shwe’s regime responded with force to the Saffron Revolution, killing
dozens of monks and protestors, raiding monasteries, and locking up
thousands of political prisoners.  Over 2,100 political prisoners remain
behind bars, nearly twice as many as had been locked up before the
crackdown.

“By shooting monks, Burma’s dictator Than Shwe has instigaged a global
backlash to its rule, and thousands of Americans now want to get involved,”
said Jeremy Woodrum, co-founder of the U.S. Campaign for Burma.  “And,
Burma’s peaceful revolution is alive and active inside Burma as well.”

The anniversary effort, spearheaded by the U.S. Campaign for Burma, will see
film screenings, letter-writing events, and organized information meetings
in 35 U.S. states.  As part of the event, organizers are sending thousands
of postcards to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urging him to
support a global arms embargo on Burma’s ruling military regime and seeking
the release of all political prisoners in the country.

Additionally, demonstrations, vigils, and marches will take place in New
York, Washington, DC, Chicago, and San Francisco.   The film screened at the
events will include a new interview with U Gawsita, one of the monks who led
the Saffron Revolution.

The United Nations Security Council responded to the crackdown on the
Saffron Revolution by calling on the military regime to release all
political prisoners in Burma — a demand that has been avoided by the
regime.  Yet, the Council remains deadlocked on further measures due to
China’s threat of a veto.  Activists are calling on the world body to make
it illegal to sell arms to Burma’s military regime, but China has indicated
it will protect Burma’s regime from any concrete action at the United
Nations.  UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has shown very little initiative
on the matter and has not sought to overcome China’s resistance.

Interest in Burma has skyrocketed since the Saffron Revolution. In the
United States alone, tens of thousands of Americans have signed up to help
the U.S. Campaign for Burma.  Hollywood stars, musicians, and others have
also joined the campaign, producing dozens of short videos drawing attention
to the human rights crisis in Burma.

Burma’s military regime is among the world’s most brutal.  Besides locking
up Suu Kyi, the regime has recruited more child soldiers than any other
country in the world and destroyed 3,200 ethnic minority villages, forcing
millions of villagers to flee their homes as refugees or internally
displaced.##

U.S. Campaign for Burma
1444 N St, NW Suite A2
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 234-8022
(202) 234-8044 fax
www.uscampaignforburma.org