In Eastern Burma the UN has accused the regime of breaking the Geneva Conventions by deliberately targeting civilians. The Burmese Army rapes, loots, burns, tortures and kills. Civilians are shot on sight, even children.
In 2007 in Rangoon we saw the Burmese Army brutally crush a peaceful democracy uprising led by Buddhist Monks.
Despite these appalling acts, there is no UN global arms embargo on Burma. The brutal regime is still allowed to buy foreign weapons to commit these horrific human rights abuses. It spends billions of dollars on the military while the population goes without access to proper healthcare, education and food.
On May 22nd 2009 the Security Council issued its third statement calling on the regime to enter into genuine dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic groups. Instead the regime has continued to detain possibly around 1,000 political prisoners.
A global arms embargo would have to be authorized by the United Nations Security Council, but China and Russia are both permanent members and have veto power. In 2007 they vetoed a soft non-binding resolution on Burma that called on the regime to enter into talks with the democracy movement. They also both supply arms to the regime. It is likely that at the present time they would also veto an arms embargo. Therefore, we need to build a global consensus in support of an arms embargo, to isolate China and Russia and make it harder for them to resist.
The dictatorship is directly defying the United Nations Security Council. It is time the generals faced consequences for their actions. Please take action for a global arms embargo against Burma.
Actions: Arms Embargo Action Australia Statement
BCA celebrates Australian Government commitment to global arms embargo against Burma
Media Release from Burma Campaign Australia
Burma Campaign Australia congratulates the Australia Government for committing to support a global arms embargo against Burma for the first time today.
Defence Minister John Faulkner said in the Senate today “I can say that Australia supports these efforts to seek a UN Security Council mandated arms embargo on Burma. Australia agrees that arms should not be supplied to the Burmese regime, which of course has demonstrated its willingness to use force against the civilian population.”
Burma Campaign Australia spokesperson Dr Myint Cho said this is the first time Australia has committed to supporting a global arms embargo against Burma.
“The Australian Government today has taken a significant step in bringing around real change in Burma and helping the people of Burma realise their democratic aspirations,” Dr Cho said.
“The government is backing their strong statements with real action.”
“Today Australia has shown their commitment to cutting Burma’s access to military weapons which are used on a daily basis against the people of Burma – we now need Australia to commit to cutting the regime’s financial lifelines.”
Dr Cho said the Australian Government needs to introduce targeted investment and trade sanctions against Burma in line with the EU and the US.
Yesterday Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s democracy leader, was sentenced to 18 months under house arrest. She was charged with breaking the conditions of her illegal house arrest when John Yettaw, a US citizen, visited her compound without authorisation.
Aung San Suu Kyi has spent off-and-on most of the past 20 years under house arrest.
The Australian Senate on June 18th 2009 unanimously passed a motion calling on the Australian Government to support a global arms embargo. Burma Campaign Australia has been running an online letter writing campaign calling on Australia’s Foreign Minister to publicly support a global arms embargo.
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