The dictatorship in Burma is one of the most brutal in the world, using its army to oppress its population.

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.