For many years the United Nations has ignored widespread and systematic crimes committed by Burma’s military junta, including the destruction of more than 3,500 villages in eastern Burma, widespread use of rape as a weapon of war against ethnic minorities, the forced displacement of over 1 million refugees and internally displaced people, tens of thousands of child soldiers, and the abundant use of forced labour in the country.
The situation in Burma is desperate and continues to deteriorate. The Burmese military regime has increased its military offensive against ethnic civilians in Eastern Burma during summer 2009 and forcibly displaced over 50,000 civilians.
In May 2009, Harvard Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic released a report about crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma. The report found that human rights abuses in Burma are widespread, systematic, and part of state policy and suggests Burma’s military regime may be committing crimes against humanity and war crimes prosecutable under international law.
The British Government should urge the United Nations to establish a Commission of Inquiry into these crimes and to support the International Labour Organization referring the dictatorship’s use of forced labour to the International Court of Justice. So far the British Government has remained silent.
Please write to your MP and ask them to sign EDM: 238 Reports of Crimes Against Humanity in Burma.
Actions: Crimes against Humanity - Write to your MP
Please write to your MP and ask them to support the call for the United Nations to investigate crimes against humanity in Burma.
MPs respond better to individually composed letters. It does not have to be long, one or two paragraphs is enough. Below are suggested points for you to include in your letter:
* State your concern about crimes against humanity in Burma. There is well documented evidence, including from UN General Assembly and Commission on Human Rights resolutions over many years, of widespread torture, forced displacement, sexual violence, extra-judicial killings and forced labour and that civilians are deliberately targeted.
* For many years, the United Nations has ignored widespread and systematic human rights violations and war crimes committed by the military regime.
* Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 238, which calls upon the British Government to urge the United Nations to establish a Commission of Inquiry into these crimes and to support the International Labour Organization referring the dictatorship’s use of forced labour to the International Court of Justice.
You can send your letter to your MP at:
House of Commons
London, SW1A 0AA
Or you can email it using the box below.
Just enter your postcode to find your local MP details.
Click here to see if your MP has signed EDM 238
Early Day Motion: 238 Reports of Crimes Against Humanity in Burma
That this House expresses grave concern at the escalating systematic human rights abuses being perpetrated against the people of Burma by the military dictatorship; notes that there is well documented evidence over many years of widespread torture, forced displacement, sexual violence, extra-judicial killings and forced labour and that civilians are deliberately targeted; further notes that these actions constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes; calls upon the British Government to urge the United Nations to establish a Commission of Inquiry into these crimes; and further calls on the British government to support the International Labour Organisation referring the dictatorships use of forced labour to the International Court of Justice.
What is an EDM?
Early day motions (EDMs) are formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons. However, very few EDMs are actually debated. Instead, they are used to draw attention to specific issues and demonstrate the extent of parliamentary support for a particular cause or point of view.
An MP can add their signature to an EDM to show their support.
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