Problems in Burma

What is Burma?

A country in Southeast Asia bordering Thailand, with many refugees from violence in camps in Thailand.  Please look it up or just read the plea for help below.

Every couple of weeks I get mail from this group documenting more rape, torture, and forcing children to become soldiers.  There have also been cases where ethnic civilians have been forced to walk through land mine fields to protect army personnel. 

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has said "Invest in Burma."

But that is not what Burmese refugees in the U.S. are saying, and it is not what this group has been calling for Each and Every Summer. 

This Isn't Syria and the legislation to keep pressure on the military rulers of Meinmar or Burma are Already in place.  But with our Government urging companies to invest in Burma, there is a real increase in the level of fear among Burma's people, and their allies, that investment will take precedents Over Human Rights.  Can you please help?  There is a website something like

US.senate.gov and us.house.gov, (not sure of exact address, I am sorry) which lists all senators and representatives by state.

Why should we care?  Because we have a chance to help make the world just a little safer for vulnerable people.

 I wish similar legislation Were in place in Every country where there is war.  But that would stop most resource extraction, I would guess.  Since we have the chance to help Someone, let's take it.

Email Your Senators and Representative For Burma

Will you make sure that Congress makes protecting human rights—not satisfying corporate

greed—their main priority in Burma?

Tell your Senators and Representative to support the renewal of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act (BFDA) today

.

As we speak, Burma’s military is committing heinous human rights abuses against Burma’s

ethnic civilians, particularly the Kachin. Burma’s regime still refuses to admit

there are hundreds of political prisoners behind bars.

More and more farmers are forced off their land to make way for foreign investment

.

Some farmers have been arrested for refusing to leave their land

. We must send a strong signal that real reform respects rights, not profits. The

import ban in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act is the last piece of leverage

the U.S. has to push the Burmese Army to stop attacking civilians and pursue irreversible

reforms.

Please take a minute to send an

email to your Senators and Representative today

 to renew Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act before it expires this summer.

In 2003 Congress passed landmark legislation, the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act,

which has stopped hundreds of millions of dollars from entering the pockets of the

military junta and its cronies. Every year this important legislation must be renewed

before it expires, each summer strong grassroots pressure from Americans is what

keeps these sanctions firmly in place.

WITHOUT YOUR HELP WE WILL NOT SUCCEED

. The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act is the only leverage the U.S has left to

push the Burmese regime to move forward with positive changes and hold them accountable

for widespread human rights abuses and mass atrocities they commit against the people

of Burma.


Despite all the changes that have taken place in central Burma, there is little or

no change in the ethnic nationality areas, especially in Shan and Kachin areas where

severe fighting is ongoing between the Burmese army and ethnic armed groups. This

year alone,

there have been at least 750 human rights abuses incidents

 committed by the Burmese troops against ethnic minority civilians. While current

peace talks between ethnic armed groups and the civilian arm of Burma’s regime is

ongoing;

the military continues to carry out atrocities

 and build up their presence in resource rich ethnic areas.

In addition to the most

egregious human rights abuses in conflict zones

, throughout the country the regime carries out forced labor, forced relocation,

extortion, land confiscation and burning of civilians’ crops and farms, some of it

in the name of making way for foreign investment.

Aung San Suu Kyi recently encouraged caution about being too optimistic about change

in Burma, and

left it up to the American people

 to decide about sanctions. 


Show your solidarity and support for the people of Burma.

Email your Senators and Representative today

 and let them know that sanctions are key in continuing to keep the pressure on the

regime in Burma if we want to see an end to human rights abuses and genuine democratic

change in the country.

In solidarity,



Myra and USCB team

Become a member of the U.S. Campaign for Burma.

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