Burma Campaigners to make direct appeal to Lloyd’s staff

Democracy campaigners will today distribute open letters to Lloyd’s staff explaining how Lloyd’s of London is helping to fund Burma’s brutal dictatorship.

“Lloyd’s are helping to fund a murderous dictatorship that rapes, tortures and kills those who call for human rights and democracy” said Johnny Chatterton, Campaigns Officer at the Burma Campaign UK. “The management of Lloyd’s seem to think it is OK to help fund this brutal dictatorship, they’re ignoring British Government advice, they’re ignoring the wishes of Burma’s democrats. We hope Lloyd’s staff will take the time to listen and question Lloyd’s’ Burma policy.”

Three Lloyd’s syndicates are known to insure risk in Burma, Catlin, Atrium and Kiln. Lloyd’s of London refuse to reveal if other syndicates currently insure risk in Burma. Lloyd’s have not responded to repeated requests from the Burma Campaign UK to reveal all the sectors of Burmese business that are insured through the Lloyd’s market.

Lloyd’s staff will be encouraged to “blow the whistle” and let the Burma Campaign UK know which Lloyd’s companies are still insuring risk in Burma by emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or calling 020 7324 4714.

The distribution of letters will take place between 11:30 and 14:00 today. It is not a protest, it is an attempt to engage with Lloyd’s staff and elicit their support.

For more information contact Johnny Chatterton on 020 7324 4714
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Notes to Editors

About the Insurance Campaign
The Insurance Campaign aims to make Burma less attractive to foreign investors by making it more expensive and more difficult for them to insure their operations in Burma. It is part of a carefully targeted policy designed by Burma’s democracy movement to cut the junta’s economic lifeline, this will decrease the amount of money the regime can spend on arms and increase pressure on the regime to negotiate with Burma’s democracy movement.

Burma’s democracy movement has called on companies not to invest in Burma, pointing to the fact that foreign investment and trade has enriched the regime, but not benefited most ordinary Burmese people. The regime spends around half its budget on the military and just 1.4% on education. Insurance is vital for the companies that invest in Burma and give the regime millions of dollars everyday.

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