Sunday, 9 December 2012

Dear brothers, sisters and friends of Burma

You are cordially invited to attend the protest to condemn the oppressive Burmese regime’s brutal crackdown on a peaceful protest against the Letpadaung mine project, which will be held on 3rd December 2012.

Just last week the Burmese government forcibly evicted local residents from villages in the vicinity of the Letpadaung mountain range and illegally confiscated land and lay down steps which have ensured the seeds for the destruction of the natural habitat of these mountainous areas, as a result of the ongoing mining project.

With growing worry regarding these changes to the local community and environment by the mining project, local farmers, human rights, later joined by Buddhist monks, voiced their concerns by means of a peaceful protest asking for the government to suspend the project.  The Thein Sein regime’s (lauded for their so called ongoing reform process) security forces responded to the peaceful protesters with  tear gas, smoke bombs, and fire, leaving a number of  protesters including Buddhist monks injured, severely burnt.

The Burmese government’s aggressive response to the peaceful expression of opinions included, directly targeting protesters with flare guns and chemical weapons. This is further evidence of the Burmese government’s oppressive crackdown on the basic human right, of freedom of expression. It is acts like this, which have always been the reason why, we the Burmese population have always doubted the true intentions of the government and tried the trust that we put in their so called democratic reform process.

We therefore call on the Burmese government to immediately

1)      Completely shut down the mining project

2)    Facilitate an independent investigation of the crackdown, by a team which includes international experts to provide justice for the innocent victims

3)     Ensure that urgent and appropriate steps be taken to end such horrific offences against the people of Burma

It is crucial that we stand by our people at home and show our solidarity in the fight for our basic human rights.

In this regard, we would like to invite you to join hands with us, to call for human rights and justice for our people in Burma.

Programme details
Date : 03.12.2012 ( Monday)
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm
Venue : In front of Burmese embassy, London

Sincerely yours
Democratic Burmese Community (UK)

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