CIVICUS

FROM THE DESK OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

Standing up for the people of Burma

Release Date: 10 October 2007

By Kumi Naidoo, CIVICUS Secretary-General

Dear e-CIVICUS Subscriber,

With the Internet down and the security services on high alert, little solid information from inside Burma, apart from rumours and individually leaked stories, is making its way into the international media.

We have heard chilling reports of monasteries sealed off by the security forces and monks being tortured and beaten to death, leaving splashes of blood on the floors and walls. Other reports claim up to 1,700 people had been detained at the Government Technical Institute, including about 200 women and at least one child. Some say 30 people have been killed and 1,400 arrested.

The streets of Rangoon are said to be quiet, with nervous shoppers darting from shop to shop around the state security officers stationed at the main protest points.

Even if a portion of these reports are true - and tragically I believe they may even underestimate the reality - they are more than enough reason for the international community to take action. Many state leaders and the United Nations have quickly heeded this call and at least expressed concern…but is it enough?

In the last couple of weeks, numerous countries hav e c ondemned the actions of the government, and hav e c alled for restraint and the release of the protesters. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sent Special Enjoy Ibrahim Gambari to Burma early last week, where he met with the junta’s top general Than Shwe and imprisoned opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. In Geneva, the UN Human Rights Council passed an unusually uncompromising motion condemning the "continued violent repression of peaceful demonstrations" and urging the junta to "exercise utmost restraint" and refrain from further attacks. It called for the immediate release of all those detained in the recent protests, as well as Burma's thousands of political prisoners, including Suu Kyi, who has spent 12 of the last 18 years under house arrest.

In addition to reporting to Ban Ki-moon, Gambari is expected to brief the UN Security Council, the same body that in January turned down a draft resolution on Burma. While any real action by the UN would have to come from the Security Council, it would first have to win the support of permanent members China and Russia, two of Burma’s allies who have so far resisted any strong measures.

International commentators are pointing to China as having the real power to make a difference. Not only is China a permanent member of the Security Council, it is also Burma’s major arms supplier and has potentially important political influence over the country. With the upcoming Beijing Olympics on the horizon, China is also anxious to keep its international image clean. However, much of this sway, if it does happen, may not necessarily be orchestrated publicly as China is also keenly aware of its own rather questionable human rights record and practices. Pressure is also being stacked on others in the region, particularly Japan and India, to use their influence as major regional powers.

Accusations of human rights abuses are not new to Burma - a country which has been named and shamed for its use of child soldiers, forced labour, torture and unlawful detention. Active dissent and assembly are forbidden and an estimated 1,160 political prisoners of conscience are thought to be held in poor prison conditions. In 1988, over 3,000 protesters were killed when police opened fire on a pro-democracy demonstration.

With this history of violations - many which have been ignored or have gone undocumented - why have the recent protests so captured the world’s attention? The peaceful protests, led by Buddhist monks in their coloured robes, were sparked by sharp increases in fuel prices. Day after day they marched, calling for a reduction in commodity prices and then, as others joined and the number of protesters grew, their voices were heard demanding the release of political prisoners, democracy and national reconciliation.

For the people of Burma, who have so long lived under the oppressive shroud of the military junta, and for the international community who have time and time again searched for beacons of hope, the sight of thousands of monks and others marching in the strictly monitored streets was a sign - a peoples’ revolution is coming. Even though the streets are now eerily quiet, and some observers are predicting that the uprising has been successfully silenced, the struggle is far from over. Now is the time for the international community to apply real, not just tokenistic pressure.

As I witnessed during South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle, international solidarity works. It gives courage and hope to the activists left inside oppressive states and reminds the government leaders they are being watched. Similarly for Burma, if civil society actors around the world lobby consistently, vocalise their concerns actively and convincingly and pressure their leaders tirelessly, it will have an impact.

A week ago CIVICUS wrote a letter to senior general Than Shwe, and copied it to numerous others within his government as well as the UN and ASEAN leaders. You can read the letter at www.civicus.org/csw/Myanmar_Letter_of_Appeal_25.09.07.pdf. I encourage you to write your own letter, either in the name of your organisation or as an individual. Every action counts.

On 17 October, supporters of the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) will stand up and speak out against injustice and poverty around the world. When I stand up on 17 October, I will speak out not only against poverty but about other injustices too and the violations of human rights happening in Burma, as well as Ethiopia and Zimbabwe and, tragically, many other countries.

My colleagues at CIVICUS have received numerous calls to action throughout the last couple of weeks. One of the most thoughtful ones was compiled by the Canadian creator of the Facebook discussion group Support the Monks’ Protest in Burma. The suggestions below have been adapted from this list. I strongly encourage you to browse through the list and choose the ways fit for you to support the people of Burma.

In solidarity,

Kumi

9 things you can do to support the people of Burma:

1. PROTEST. Information on worldwide protests is available at www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/q.php, or contact your local Burma group. A list of worldwide groups is available here www.burmacampaign.org.uk/links.html.

2. STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT ON 17 OCTOBER. The Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) is calling on people around the world to stand up and speak out against injustice on 17 October. Stand up for the people of Burma, visit www.standagainstpoverty.org

3. SPREAD THE WORD. Invite your friends to sign petitions, email all your family and friends, write to local newspapers

4. WRITE TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. Ask them to condemn the treatment of protesters and demand the release of political prisoners.

5. EMAIL COMPANIES STILL IN BURMA. Some of their email addresses are listed here: www.burmacampaign.org.uk/dirty_list/dirty_list_details.html

6. SIGN A PETITION. A few are listed below:

AVAAZ.org - Stand with the Burmese Protesters

www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/q.php

Asian Students Association - Blog for human rights

http://apstudes.wordpress.com

US Campaign for Burma - Petition to Chinese government

www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/uscampaignforburma/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=730&t=HomePage.dwt

Amnesty International Canada - Petition to Canadian government

www.amnesty.ca/take_action/actions/myanmar_peaceful_protests.php

UK Government - Petition to Prime Minister

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SupportBurmese

Action Burma - Petition to free Aung San Suu Kyi

http://actionburma.com

Info Birmanie - Petition to French Minister of Foreign Affairs

www.info-birmanie.or

7. KEEP UP TO DATE. Read the mainstream news, as well as blogs and websites for updates on Burma.

8. EMAIL YOUR NATION'S EMBASSY IN BURMA. Ask your embassy to open up their WiFi networks for activists and media inside Burma to use. There have been reports that the Internet is down to keep reports and pictures from leaving Burma. Your embassy's contact information will be on your country's ministry/department of foreign affairs webpage. Some embassies are listed here: www.alloexpat.com/myanmar_expat_forum/foreign-embassy-in-myanmar-directory-t5.html

WRITE TO BURMA’S MAIN ARMS SUPPLIERS. Write to the Embassies of China, India, Russia, Serbia and the Ukraine in your country urging them to stop supplying arms to Burma. Read the Amnesty International call for an UN arms embargo: www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=17465.

Below you will find all previous columns published.

• Closing the gap between volunteering and social activism

• A poor climate makes for poor people

• It starts with you: become a volunteer GCAP organiser and Stand Up and Speak Out Against Poverty and Inequality

• Enforced disappearance threaten us all

• We must plug the leaks: Civil Society and Aid Effectiveness

• October 17: Stand up with millions united as one

• Should the voting age be reduced to sixteen? International Youth Day: a time for reflection

• CIVICUS partners continue to languish in jail

• If civil society organisations cannot change how governments can?

• Climate Change: How much longer can we ignore this catastrophe and how will climate change affect the work of civil society?

• Civil society engaging with inter-governmental organisations: is the feeling mutual?

• 07/07/07: Reflection on the mid-point of the Minimalist/Millennium Development Goals