Global Day of Action to Stop Killing in Burma; May 16, 2006

(1) 12 nations plan protests against Myanmar regime

Demonstrations are to be staged outside Myanmar embassies in 12 countries next week to protest the ruling regime's crackdown on the Karen ethnic group and call for action from the UN, activists announced on Saturday.

"Citizens in 12 countries around the world are planning large demonstrations and other action next Tuesday, May 16, to respond to major attacks on ethnic minorities in eastern Myanmar," said a press release by the US Campaign for Burma here.

An estimated 15,500 Karen villagers have fled their homes in eastern Myanmar over the past five months after the ruling military junta moved their headquarters to Pyinmana, 300 km north of Yangon, and launched a "cleaning up operation" against all Karen living in a five km radius of the new capital.

Many of the refugees have fled to the Thai-Myanmar border, where more than 100,000 Karens have been languishing in temporary shelters since 1996 as a result of attacks on more than 2,800 Karen villages.
The Karen are one of the largest ethnic minority groups in Myanmar, residing primarily in the Karen State. They have been waging a guerrilla war against Yangon for the autonomy of their state since 1949.

The Karen National Union (KNU) is the only rebel group that has refused to sign a peace agreement with Myanmar's ruling junta, the self-styled State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).

Attacks on the Karen over the past decade have resulted in well-documented atrocities and widespread human rights abuses.

"Kofi Annan and members of the UN Security Council must immediately condemn these attacks and publicly state that the council must pass a resolution demanding change," said Jeremy Woodrum, campaigns director at the US Campaign for Burma.
"If the Security Council fails to act as the rainy season approaches in the coming weeks, many people will die."

Protests and rallies are planned at Myanmar embassies in the US, Canada, Britain, Japan, India, Belgium, Australia, Thailand, Norway, New Zealand, Korea, and Denmark.
 

(2) UN official to visit Burma, anti-Rangoon protests planned

A senior United Nations official will make a rare visit to Burma and push Secretary-General Kofi Annan's demand that the nation's ruling junta restore democracy and respect human rights, the United Nations has announced this morning, Thailand time.

Meanwhile activists announced at a Bangkok press conference that demonstrations will be staged outside Burmese embassies in Thailand and 11 other countries next week to protest the ruling regime's crackdown on the Karen ethnic group and call for action from the United Nations, activists announced. (Details below)

The United Nations says only that Ibrahim Gambari, the undersecretary-general for political affairs, will visit Burma in the "near future," US Ambassador John Bolton said the United States wants Gambari to raise the issue of the longtime house arrest of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi at all of his meetings.

The junta has refused to allow UN envoys into the country for more than two years, and planning must be handled delicately, UN officials said.

"The UN remains committed to encouraging a return to democracy and respect for human rights in Burma and a visit ... would seek to further those objectives," said a spokesman.

Burma's military junta took power in 1988 after crushing a pro-democracy movement. In 1990, it refused to hand over power when Suu Kyi's party won a landslide victory in general elections.

Suu Kyi was last arrested two years ago, but has been detained about 10 of the last 17 years, mostly under house arrest.

Last December, Mr. Gambari, who is from Nigeria, gave a rare briefing to the UN Security Council on Burma. He warned that the junta has denied its people essential human rights and created a humanitarian emergency. Russia and China had previously blocked US, British and French efforts to bring Burma before the council.

"Citizens in 12 countries around the world are planning large demonstrations and other action next Tuesday, May 16th to respond to major attacks on ethnic minorities in eastern Burma," said the US Campaign for Burma in a press release made available in Bangkok.

An estimated 15,500 Karen villagers have fled their homes in eastern Burma over the past five months after the ruling military junta moved their headquarters to Pyinmana, 300 kilometres north of Rangoon, and launched a "cleaning up operation" against all Karen living in a 5-kilometre radius of the new capital.

Many of the refugees have fled to the Thai-Burma border, where more than 100,000 Karens have been languishing in temporary shelters since 1996 as a result of attacks on more than 2,800 Karen villages.

The Karen are one of the largest ethnic minority groups in Burma, residing primarily in the Karen State. They have been waging a guerrilla war against Rangoon for the autonomy of their state since 1949.

The Karen National Union (KNU) is the only rebel group that has refused to sign a peace agreement with Burma's ruling junta, the self-styled State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).

Attacks on the Karen over the past decade have resulted in well-documented atrocities and widespread human rights abuses.

"Kofi Annan and members of the United Nations Security Council must immediately condemn these attacks and publicly state that the UN Security Council must pass a resolution demanding change," said Jeremy Woodrum, campaigns director at the United States Campaign for Burma.

"If the Security Council fails to act as the rainy season approaches in the coming weeks, many people will die."

Protests and rallies are planned at Burma embassies in the United States, Canada, UK, Japan, India, Belgium, Australia, Thailand, Norway, New Zealand, Korea, and Denmark.

In Washington, DC a major protest will take place at the Burma embassy.
 

(3) Protests against Myanmar regime planned in 12 countries

Protests against Myanmar regime planned in 12 countries

Bangkok (dpa) - Demonstrations will be staged outside Myanmar (Burmese ) embassies in 12 countries next week to protest the ruling regime's crackdown on the Karen ethnic group and call for action from the United Nations, activists announced on Saturday.

"Citizens in 12 countries around the world are planning large demonstrations and other action next Tuesday, May 16th to respond to major attacks on ethnic minorities in eastern Burma (Myanmar)," said the US Campaign for Burma in a press release made available in Bangkok.

An estimated 15,500 Karen villagers have fled their homes in eastern Myanmar over the past five months after the ruling military junta moved their headquarters to Pyinmana, 300 kilometres north of Yangon, and launched a "cleaning up operation" against all Karen living in a 5-kilometre radius of the new capital.

Many of the refugees have fled to the Thai-Myanmar border, where more than 100,000 Karens have been languishing in temporary shelters since 1996 as a result of attacks on more than 2,800 Karen villages.

The Karen are one of the largest ethnic minority groups in Myanmar, residing primarily in the Karen State. They have been waging a guerrilla war against Yangon for the autonomy of their state since 1949.

The Karen National Union (KNU) is the only rebel group that has refused to sign a peace agreement with Myanmar's ruling junta, the self-styled State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).

Attacks on the Karen over the past decade have resulted in well-documented atrocities and widespread human rights abuses.

"Kofi Annan and members of the United Nations Security Council must immediately condemn these attacks and publicly state that the UN Security Council must pass a resolution demanding change," said Jeremy Woodrum, campaigns director at the United States Campaign for Burma.

"If the Security Council fails to act as the rainy season approaches in the coming weeks, many people will die."

Protests and rallies are planned at Myanmar embassies in the United States, Canada, UK, Japan, India, Belgium, Australia, Thailand, Norway, New Zealand, Korea, and Denmark.

In Washington, DC a major protest will take place at the Myanmar embassy.
==========================================

US Campaign for Burma, For Immediate Release: May 12th, 2006
Contact: Cristina Moon or Aung Din (202) 223-0300

(4) 16 Demonstrations in 12 Countries Respond to Major Attacks on Ethnic Minorities in Burma

After Destruction of 2,800 Villages and Over 1 Million Refugees, Protestors Demand Overdue UN Security Council Action

(Washington, DC) Citizens in 12 countries around the world are planning large demonstrations and other action next Tuesday, May 16th to respond to major attacks on ethnic minorities in eastern Burma. An estimated 15,500 villagers have fled their homes and villages, adding to the devastation that has resulted in the destruction of 2,800 villages in eastern Burma since 1996. Refugees International, the respected refugee research and advocacy organization, states that the situation for those driven from their homes in eastern Burma is the worst internal displacement crisis in Asia.

The attacks began in early November, just after Burma's military strongman Than Shwe surprised even Burma's closest allies by moving the capitol from Rangoon into the middle of the jungle. Located much closer to areas traditionally controlled by ethnic minorities, the junta immediately commenced attacks on civilians its information minister called "cleaning-up operations". In early March, the attacks significantly intensified, with ethnic refugees fleeing their homes and many streaming over the border to neighboring Thailand. Troops of the military junta have carried out a campaign of terror attacks by burning villages and torturing civilians. Civilians have been shot, tortured, and killed.

"Kofi Annan and members of the United Nations Security Council must immediately condemn these attacks and publicly state that the UN Security Council must pass a resolution demanding change," said Jeremy Woodrum, campaigns director at the United States Campaign for Burma. "If the Security Council fails to act as the rainy season approaches in the coming weeks, many people will die."

Protests and rallies are planned at embassies of the military junta and government buildings in the United States, Canada, UK, Japan, India, Belgium, Australia, Thailand, Norway, New Zealand, Korea, and Denmark. In Washington, DC a major protest will take place at the embassy of the military junta at 2300 S St, NW at 5:00 pm.

The attacks in eastern Burma are focusing world attention on what Refugees International calls a "forgotten people." For those familiar with Burma, much attention has been placed on the struggle of the world's only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi. Yet those struggling in eastern Burma have faced massive dislocations on par with similar situations in Africa where Kofi Annan and the United Nations Security Council have chosen to become deeply involved.

Today, articles on the attacks are being run in the Houston Chronicle, Washington Post, Boston Globe, San Jose Mercury News, Concord Monitor, The Guardian (UK), and dozens of other papers.

Leading organizations including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Church World Service, and Refugees International are all calling for the UN Security Council to take action on Burma. Leading British members of parliament yesterday tabled a resolution demanding that the Tony Blair government stick to its promise to press for UN Security Council action on Burma, and the United States and EU have issued statements strongly condemning the attacks.

Recently, former Czech President Vaclav Havel and South Africa's Nobel Peace Prize recipient Desmond Tutu commissioned a report calling for UN Security Council action on Burma. They pointed out that UN efforts on Burma have failed due to the fact that all have been nonbinding. Their report, entitled "A Threat to the Peace", painstakingly documented every failed UN attempt, including 28 consecutive resolutions from the UN General Assembly and Commission on Human Rights, two special envoys to Burma from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and four special envoys to Burma from the Commission on Human Rights. The report also listed failed attempts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, including several envoys and the Bangkok Process. The two respected international leaders concluded that only the power of a binding UN Security Council resolution would help facilitate change in Burma. Shortly thereafter, the Security Council held its first ever ground-breaking discussion on Burma on December
16th, 2005.

The call for a UN Security Council go further by adopting a binding resolution has been amplified after the latest deadly attacks. A leading coalition of members of parliament from Southeast Asian nations reiterated this call after the latest attacks: "The UNSC must not fail in effectively dealing with the situation if it wants to reassure the international community of its relevance."

For a complete list of locations of 16 demonstrations worldwide, visit
www.uscampaignforburma.org

(5) PLANS of ACTIONS

(1) UNITED STATES (Washington, DC)
May 16th, 5:00 pm (Eastern Time)
Where: Embassy of Burma's Military Junta, 2300 S St, NW Washington, DC
Contact: US Campaign for Burma
Phone: 202-223-0300, info@uscampaignforburma.org

(2) CANADA (Vancouver)
May 16th, 6:00 P.M. (Pacific Time)
Where: Robson Square (Downtown), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Contact: San Aung, Cell: (1-778) 888-1918, sanaung88@yahoo.com

(3) UNITED KINGDOM (London)
May 16th, 12:30-2:00 pm
Where: Embassy of Burma's Junta: 19a Charles Street, London
Contacts: Mark Farmaner, Burma Campaign UK (44) 207-324-4710,
mark.farmaner@burmacampaignuk.org

Ben Rogers, Christian Solidarity Worldwide: (44) 20 8942 8810, ben@csw.org
Tayza Thuria: tayzathuria@yahoo.co.uk

(4) FRANCE (Paris)
May 16th, 12:00- 3:00 PM
Where: Embassy of Burma's Junta: No. 60, RUE DE COURCELLES, 75008-PARIS
Who: Burmese Community in France, Info Birmanie, Amnesty International
Contact: Thinn Thiri: Tel: (33) 1 44 64 79 48,thinn_thiri2005@yahoo.com

Frederic Debomy (Info Birmanie): Tel (33) 336 64 92 30 28,fred_debomy@hotmail.com

(5) JAPAN (Tokyo)
May 16, 2006, 3:00-5:00 PM
Where: Burmese Regime's Embassy at 8-26, 4-CHOME, KITA-SHINAGAWA,
SHINAGAWA-KU TOKYO 140-0001
Who: Burmese Democracy Activists and Japanese Friends of Burma
Contact:
National League for Democracy (Liberated Area) Japan Branch U Thant Zin Oo:
(090-2765-9693) utzojp@yahoo.co.jp
League for Democracy in Burma U Kyaw Kyaw Soe: (090-6031-4394)
kyawkyawsoe@hotmail.co.jp
Association of United Nationalities in Japan U Thang Nang Lian Thang (090)
3048 8680 lianthang@hotmail.com
DPNS Japan U Win Aung (090-7172-0595)
ABFSU (FAC) JB U Phone Myint Tun (090-4221-1988), myint@hpo.net
Democratic Federation of Burma (Japan) U Ko Ko Aung (090-1506-2893),
kokoaung_dfbjp@yahoo.com

(6) INDIA (New Delhi)
May 16, 2006
Where: Parliament street, Janta Manta, New Delhi, India
Who: Burma Campaign (India)
Contact: U Nyunt Hla (91) 9810851427, (91) 28538815,
burmacampaign_india@yahoo.com

(7) BELGIUM (Brussels)
May 16, 2006, 12:30-3:00 PM
Where: The regime's embassy at Boulevard General Wahis, 91030 Schaerbeek
Who: Free Burma Activists in Belgium
Contact: Aung Maw Zin (32) 494 381 727, aungmawzin@yahoo.com

(8) AUSTRALIA (Melbourne)
May 16, 2006, 7:00 PM
Where: UNOH Office, No. 66, Regent Avenue, Springvale, Melbourne
Who: Melbourne Action Committee for Democracy in Burma, Australia
Contact: Maung Myo at o_way_group@yahoo.com or s_g_a_f@yahoo.com

(9) AUSTRALIA (Canberra)
May 17, 2006
Where: Burmese regime's Embassy at 22 Arkana Street, Yarralumla, Canberra, ACT 2600
Who: Melbourne Action Committee for Democracy in Burma, Australia
Contact: Maung Myo at o_way_group@yahoo.com or s_g_a_f@yahoo.com

(10) THAILAND (Bangkok)
May 16th, 2006
Visits to Parliament and Embassies
Who: Forum-Asia
Contact: Chalida, chalida@forum-asia.org

(11) KOREA (Seoul)
May 16th, 2006
Where: Burmese Regime Emassy at 723-1, 724-1, HANNAM-DONG, YONGSAN-KU,
SEOUL, 140-210, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Who: Burmese Democracy Activists
Contact: YAN NAING HTUN
National League For Democracy (Liberated Area) Korea Branch
phone: (82) 11 – 9723 – 4773, yannainghtun@yahoo.com

(12) NORWAY
May 16th, 2006, 5:00 PM
Where: Fjellgata 43 A, 6003, Ålesund, Norway.
Who: Burmese Democracy Activists
Contact: U Kyaw Thwin (MP) and NLD–LA (Norway), Tel: +47 90 88 34 48,kyawnorway@yahoo.com