Burma’s Human Rights In Freefall Since Gambari’s Appointment

Number of Political Prisoners Almost Doubled

Over 130,000 Forced From Homes by Ethnic Cleansing

The Burma Campaign UK today urged the United Nations to abandon its softly softly approach to Burma’s generals. The human rights situation in the country has taken a dramatic downward turn since UN Envoy Gambari first visited Burma in May 2006 and declared that the regime had turned a new page with the international community.

Since then:
• The number of political prisoners almost doubled from 1,100 to 2,056.
• More than 130,000 people in Eastern Burma have been forced from their homes as part of the regime’s ethnic cleansing campaign.
• September 2007’s peaceful pro-democracy protests were brutally suppressed, with protestors fired on and thousands of monks arrested.
• Humanitarian aid was blocked following Cyclone Nargis.
• Political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, have been routinely denied access to doctors and medical treatment.

International pressure following the suppression of last year’s uprising forced the regime into agreeing to talks with Aung San Suu Kyi but, as on previous occasions, the regime refused to enter into genuine negotiations, and instead just talked about talks. When international attention moved on, the talks were dropped.

“By any measure the record of Gambari and the UN is one of failure,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of the Burma Campaign UK. “ There is a human rights crisis in Burma and it is getting worse. The current UN approach is failing, and the people of Burma are paying the price. It is time the UN set benchmarks, such as the release of all political prisoners, and a timeline for those benchmarks to be implemented. If the regime continues to defy the UN, stronger action should be taken.”

The Burma Campaign UK also expressed deep concern about Gambari’s schedule of meetings for his current trip to Burma. In his first three days in the country he spent more than two days in meetings with the regime, their business cronies and civilian front organisations, and just 20 minutes with the National League for Democracy.

For more information contact Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, on +44 (0)20 7324 4710.

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