ABOUT BURMA

Burma Campaign UK

Burma, a country of around 50 million people is ruled by fear. A military machine of 500,000 soldiers denies a whole nation its most basic rights. Aung San Suu Kyi, pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace laureate, symbolises the struggle of Burma's people to be free.

She has spent many years under house arrest. When she was released in May 2002, there was widespread hope that it would be a step towards democracy in Burma and lead to serious political reform. However, during a tour of northern Burma last year, Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters were attacked by a government sponsored mob. The attack took place in Depayin on 30 May 2003. As many as 70 people were killed in the attack and over 100 people arrested, including Aung San Suu Kyi. National League for Democracy (NLD) offices throughout the country have been closed. Aung San Suu Kyi remained in secret detention for over three months. She is currently under house arrest in Rangoon.

Aung San Suu Kyi's message is a simple one - that only by fighting fear can you truly be free - a message Burma's military fears and aims to silence.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO), a United Nations agency, charge Burma's regime with a 'crime against humanity' for its widespread and systematic use of forced labour.

The ILO describes how men, women, children and the elderly are forced to labour on roads, railways and other construction projects. They also face punishments which include: "money demands, physical abuse, beatings, torture, rape and murder"

The military has sought foreign investment in order to rescue it from bankruptcy. A worrying consequence of the investment is the way it has provided foreign currency which has helped the regime to expand the army - in turn helping it to maintain power.

Currently the regime has around 500,000 military personnel. A country of only 50 million people has one of the largest armies in Asia yet has no external enemies.

Aung San Suu Kyi's Party, the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 82% of the seats in the 1990 election.

The people of Burma overwhelmingly rejected military rule yet the military continues to refuse to transfer power to Burma's democratically elected leaders.

The NLD, ethnic nationalities, students and monks continue to resist the regime despite a highly repressive political environment. The campaign for a democratic Burma has become international and continues to grow in strength.

Pressure from groups throughout Europe, North America and Asia has forced a long list of companies to withdraw from Burma.

These include: British American Tobacco, Texaco, Levi Strauss,Triumph International, Premier Oil and many others.

The United States has imposed tough economic sanctions on Burma. These include a ban on new investment, an asset freeze, a restriction on dollar transactions and a ban on most Burmese imports into the United States.

Despite repeated calls from Aung San Suu Kyi, the European Union has not imposed a single sanction that has had any significant impact on the regime's financial interests.