Governments must turn words into action for Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma

The Burma Campaign UK today welcomed the unprecedented number of statements in support of Aung San Suu Kyi, but called for words to be turned into action this time.

Aung San Suu Kyi is spending her 64th birthday under house arrest. It is her 14th birthday in detention.

“The dictatorship will be counting on history repeating itself, with words failing to be turned into action,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “It must be different this time, we need to see real pressure in terms of a global arms embargo, a UN investigation into crimes against humanity being committed in eastern Burma, and high level diplomacy. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon must go ahead with his planned July visit to Burma. He must aim to get all political prisoners released.”

When the Depayin massacre happened in 2003, and Aung San Suu Kyi was again arrested, there was an international outcry. The same happened after the 2007 democracy uprising. However, there was little concrete action by the international community. The regime will be calculating the same will happen again, and is dragging out the trial hoping anger will dissipate, and action will fail to materialise.

“We have huge public support for action, from Asia, Europe and the Americas,” said Mark Farmaner. “The dictatorship will not reform unless it is forced to do so. In the meantime they continue to defy the United Nations and global public opinion. Aung San Suu Kyi will be found guilty if the generals think they can get away with it. We can’t let the generals get away with it again.”

For more information contact Mark Farmaner on 020 7324 4710.

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