MTV and The Burma Campaign UK launch campaign to free Aung San Suu Kyi

MTV Network Europe announced today the launch of a Europe wide on-air campaign supported by Coldplay lead singer, Chris Martin, Bono, Bob Geldof, Macy Gray and Lenny Kravitz urging the release of Burmese pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, who was arrested by Burmese authorities on 30 May, 2003.  The promo spots will begin airing from 27 August 2003 on MTV and VH1 channels across Europe, reaching 112 million households. The spots are produced in association with the Burma Campaign UK and are being made available to all 38 MTV music programming services worldwide, reaching a potential audience of 1 billion in 164 territories around the world.

The on-air promos encourage viewers to go to a dedicated web sites, http://www.mtvburmaaction.com and http://www.vh1burmaaction.com to sign a petition asking UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan to refer the arrest and detainment of Aung San Suu Kyi to the UN Security Council and its five permanent members, President George Bush of the United States, Prime Minister Tony Blair of Great Britain, President Jacques Chirac of France, President Vladmir Putin of Russia and President Hu Jintao of China.

“We have to take a stand against this gross violation of human rights,” said Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay.  “The world’s leaders aren’t doing enough to rectify the situation in Burma and this campaign can provide a global call for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release.”

“Providing a platform for the voice of young people is at the very core of what MTV is about, and we vehemently support everyone’s right to freedom of expression, no matter who they are or where they live,” noted Brent Hansen, President & CEO, and MTV Networks Europe.

“This is the start of a new movement for freedom in Burma,” said John Jackson, Director of the Burma Campaign UK. “With the backing of MTV and the artist community we can reach millions of people. If the world acts together we can bring freedom to Burma.”

For more information on the situation in Burma, please visit http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/aboutburma.html

Media Contacts:

MTV
Polly Stevens
Director of Pan-European Press and Communications
MTV Networks Europe, London
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7478 6615
E-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The Burma Campaign UK
John Jackson
Director of the Burma Campaign UK
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7281 7377
Mark Farmaner, Media Officer
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7281 7377

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1) A jpeg from the appeal is available by calling the above numbers

2) BACKGOUND ON BURMA

Burma is in South East Asia. In 1990 the National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, won elections in Burma. The regime refused to hand over power, and instead imprisoned and tortured MPs. Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest, released in 1995, arrested again in 1999, and released in 2002. Since her arrest on 30th May the regime has kept her in a secret location.

Burma has one of the worst human rights records in the world. It has the highest rates of slave labour in the world, the highest number of child soldiers, and well over 1,000 political prisoners. The regime spends over forty percent of its budget on the military, while the people of Burma live in poverty. Half the population has no access to healthcare. One in ten babies die before their first birthday.

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