60 Join Protest at Portuguese Embassy in London – 15 Countries Join Day of Action

Pictures available on request

Campaign actions calling on the EU Presidency to increase pressure on Burma’s dictatorship took place in at least 15 countries across Europe today, including UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Czech Republic, Ireland, Denmark, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Norway, Italy, Netherlands and Romania.

The day of action is in response to the failure of the European Union to take any concrete action in response to the Burmese military regime’s crackdown on peaceful protestors in Burma. To date the only step taken by the EU has been to issue a statement of concern. Portugal currently holds the EU Presidency, and so has been the focus of the day of action.

“Today we have shown that across Europe people are appalled at the failure of the EU to take action,” said Myo Thein, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK. “How can they stand by and do nothing while people are being arrested everyday just for demanding the kind of freedoms that the European Union claims to support?”

EU Foreign Ministers meet in Portugal on 7th and 8th of September. European Campaign groups are calling for ministers to put Burma on the agenda and discuss strengthening the Common Position.

For more information contact Myo Thein or Mark Farmaner on 020 7324 4710

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