The news out of Burma is still not good. I am hearing reports on a regular basis about the horrible things the government of Burma is doing to its own people. Here is one of those reprost:
Dear Friends,
It has been over a month since Cyclone Nargis slammed into Burma, leaving millions without food, shelter, and clean water. Than Shwe’s dictatorship has continued to not only block much aid from reaching those in need, but has forcibly evicted survivors from temporary shelters, extorted forced labor in exchange for food aid, and harassed and arrested Burmese who try to help their fellow people.
At the same time, the regime has continued its campaign of ethnic cleansing in eastern Burma. In May and June, more villages have been attacked and destroyed.
The United Nations cannot continue to stand by and watch this happen. The UN Secretary-General has the authority to bring any matter to the attention of the Security Council that he believes is an important issue of international security.
Please email UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and call on him to ask the UN Security Council to pass an immediate resolution on Burma.
Millions are at risk because of the regime’s criminal actions against its own people. If the regime is allowed to continue, more people will die.
Aung Din, Jeremy Woodrum, Jennifer Quigley, and Thelma Young
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More Background and Facts
While millions are in desperate need of aid after cyclone Naris, the Burmese regime’s army is continuing to attack and burn ethnic minority villages, displacing many people in eastern Burma. Last week, the army destroyed more villages in eastern Burma as part of its campaign to ethnically cleanse Burma of its ethnic minorities. Regime troops fire mortars at the villages, destroy farms, burn and/or loot homes, lay landmines, attack civilians and drive them out. To learn more about the crisis in eastern Burma – go here.
Frustratingly, the situation in the cyclone-stricken areas of Burma remains deplorable, more than a month after Cyclone Nargis hit. The UN estimates that 2.4 million people are in need of food, shelter and medical care, and more than a million have yet to receive ANY official foreign aid. Even though UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited Burma more than 2 weeks ago, and was assured that foreign aid workers would be allowed to help, many are still denied access to devastated areas. Than Shwe does not want foreigners to see that they are forcibly evicting cyclone survivors from temporary shelters, forcing them back home to their destroyed homes and demanding forced labor in exchange for food aid. Meanwhile, victims are struggling to survive any way they can.
Moreover, the regime is arresting those who try to help. Zarganar, one of Burma’s leading comedians and actors, who has been tirelessly working to bring aid to those in need, was arrested on June 4th. He gave many interviews with foreign media about the needs of the people and worked to arrange massive delivery of aid to the worst hit areas.
We cannot let Burma continue to suffer under a wave of global acquiescence to Burma’s military dictator. Please send an email today to Ban Ki-moon today
Further reading:
Free Burma Rangers: Burma Army Attacking and Displacing over 1,000 Karen People
Human Rights Watch: Burma: Stop Forced Evacuations
Amnesty: Human Rights Concerns a Month after Cyclone Nargis
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