Chavez UK visit: MPs, Unions & Ken must raise Burma

As Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez arrives in the UK, the Burma Campaign UK calls on those meeting with him to raise the issue of Venezuela’s defence of Burma’s brutal military dictatorship. Venezuela has repeatedly defended the regime at the United Nations, even opposing a resolution calling for the restoration of democracy and release of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

According to media reports, President Chavez is expected to meet with Labour MPs, Trade Unions, celebrities and London Mayor Ken Livingstone.

“We are asking all those meeting with Chavez to call on him to end his government’s defence of Burma’s military dictatorship, said Yvette Mahon, Director of the Burma Campaign UK. “It appears Venezuela is following the Maoist doctrine that my enemy’s enemy is my friend, and defending the Burmese regime simply because the USA is one of the regime’s strongest critics. If Chavez truly cares for the workers and the poor, as he claims, then Venezuela would be supporting Burma’s democracy movement. The regime in Burma has impoverished its own population and banned trade unions.”

Venezuela is one of the Latin American countries that could become a member of the United Nations Security Council next year. The Burma Campaign UK is concerned that Venezuela will oppose Security Council resolutions on Burma aimed at restoring democracy to the country.

“Many of those meeting with Chavez are longstanding supporters of Burma’s democracy movement,” says Mahon. “They have an excellent opportunity to help Burma’s democrats. It would be shocking if they were to remain silent.”

Burma is ruled by one of the most brutal military dictatorships in the world. Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been kept in detention for a total of more than ten years. More than 1,300 political prisoners languish in jail. Rape is used as a weapon of war against ethnic minorities, even against girls as young as five. Trade unions are banned and anyone found engaged in union activities is charged with a terrorist offence.  Burma’s spending on health services is the lowest in the world, while the regime spends up to half its budget on the military. The regime is currently engaged in a military offensive against ethnic minorities, forcing more than 15,000 people from their homes, shooting unarmed villagers, including children, and even mutilating and beheading people.

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