El tesoro dorado de Myanmar

Dos mercaderes viajaron hasta la colina de Singuttara para llevar al rey Okkalapa los ocho cabellos sagrados del Buda Gautama. Cuando el rey abrió el cofre la tierra tembló y del cielo cayeron piedras preciosas; dicen que los ciegos pudieron ver, los sordos oír y los mudos hablar.

Ante aquel milagro Okkalapa mandó construir un bello santuario formado por pagodas, unas sobre otras, para proteger aquellos cabellos.

El actual templo es una enorme estupa de oro (en Myanmar se le conoce como yapa), con una gran aguja decorada con piedras preciosas: más 5 mil diamantes y más de dos mil 300 rubíes.

La pagoda es parte de un centro religioso de peregrinaje budista donde se conservan algunas reliquias de Buda.

El 22 de febrero monjes y devotos participaron en una ceremonia que conmemoró los 2 mil 600 años de la pagoda de Shwedagon, ubicada en la ciudad de Yangon, Myanmar (la antigua Birmania).

Al entrar, el visitante debe quitarse los zapatos y, si hace oración, debe hacerlo dando vueltas en el sentido contrario a las manecillas del reloj.

News Update From Burma Campaign UK

Dear friend

Today Aung San Suu Kyi announced she will stand as a candidate to be an MP in by-elections due soon in Burma. This does not mean that problems in Burma are finally solved. There is still a long way to go, and Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma will continue to need our support.

A short Q&A follows on recent developments and what they might mean.

Aung San Suu Kyi Suu is standing to be an MP, and is likely to be elected. Does this mean there is democracy in Burma now?

No. Earlier this year a new military drafted constitution came into force which legalised dictatorship with a civilian front. A Parliament was created, but the military have 25 percent of the seats, and so can veto any legislation in Parliament to change the constitution and make it more democratic. Rigged elections mean Parliament is dominated by pro-military parties. Parliament also has limited power. Above parliament is the President, above the President is the National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) which has 10 of its 11 members either military or ex-military, and above the NDSC is the Military, which has a Constitutional right to step in and take direct control again and is not accountable to parliament or the president.


Why is Aung San Suu Kyi and her party standing in elections now when they boycotted the elections last year?

Last year new election laws were introduced which were designed to stop the National League for Democracy (NLD) taking part. They required the NLD to expel convicted members (political prisoners), and to support and defend the military drafted constitution. Those laws have now been changed, which means the NLD can register as a party again, and take part in elections.


If Parliament is dominated by the military, and pro-military parties, what difference can Aung San Suu Kyi make there?

She is probably hoping that even though the NLD will only have a very small number of MPs, they can use Parliament as a platform for pushing for greater reforms. Perhaps in four years time when there are new elections they will be able to win more seats, but even then there will still be the reserved seats for soldiers, and limited powers of Parliament. If more reforms can be made it is likely to be a slow and difficult process, which is why it is essential that we don’t stop campaigning and supporting Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma now. There is still a long long way to go.


I have seen in newspapers that things are improving and reforms are being made. Isn’t this positive?

Aung San Suu Kyi has been cautious saying reforms are: “to a certain extent encouraging”, but that there is still much more that needs to be done. There have been some reforms which are significant compared to the usual situation in Burma, but there no major democratic reforms yet. One reform has been the lifting of the ban on some news websites, but only 0.3 percent of people in Burma can even access the internet. There is a slight relaxation of censorship, and politicians are allowed more freedom to debate, but no changes yet which impact most ordinary people. At the same time, most political prisoners are still in jail, and Burmese Army attacks against ethnic civilians have actually increased. Almost 150,000 ethnic people were forced to flee their homes in the past year, double the average number. There has also been a big increase in the use of gang-rape by the Burmese Army. Despite some reforms, in the past year human rights abuses have actually increased.


With things changing now, is it time to lift sanctions?

Aung San Suu Kyi and the rest of Burma’s democracy movement are not calling for the lifting of economic sanctions yet. Thein Sein, Burma’s new President, and his government want international legitimacy and sanctions lifted. This is one of the reasons why they have started making some reforms. To lift too many sanctions too fast removes the incentive for them to keep making more reforms. Some of the diplomatic sanctions have been lifted to show more sanctions will be lifted if they make real change, but changes so far are not fundamental, and human rights abuses are increasing. The danger is that many American and European companies are lobbying for sanctions to be lifted now, despite the human rights situation, because they want access to Burma’s natural resources. We must ensure governments base their decisions on the human rights situation in Burma and what is best for the people, not the profits of Shell and mining companies.


Does Burma Campaign UK think there will be real change soon?

One thing we have learnt in 20 years of campaigning for human rights and democracy in Burma is to judge the government of Burma on its actions, not its words. They have said they want change, and have taken some steps which are significant compared to the past, but they haven’t delivered real change yet. The fact that they have not released all political prisoners, and they have actually increased attacks against ethnic civilians, are not good indicators that they are genuine about reform. On the other hand, there is clearly potential for reform. Thein Sein may just be wanting to make some small reforms in order to get sanctions lifted and have normal international relations, to be a ‘normal’ dictatorship, but Burma’s democracy movement will be pushing for more, and we must ensure that there is still a strong international movement to support them.

The danger now with some small reforms being made is that many people will start to think the problems in Burma are being solved. They will stop campaigning and paying attention to what is going on. But actually now is the time when their support is needed more than ever. The sanctions we campaigned for all these years are working, they are acting as pressure for reform. There is more hope now, but we need to keep pushing. There is potential for change, but at the same time human rights abuses are increasing. The people of Burma still need our support. Burma Campaign UK will always be there to defend the victims of human rights abuses in Burma, no matter how long it takes.

You can make a donation to Burma Campaign UK at: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/donate

Thank you.
Anna
Burma Campaign UK

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Burma Campaign

Dear friend

Campaign Success!

34 resistance fighters from Burma, who had been held in prison in India for more than 13 years, despite never having committed a crime, were released this month.

Burma Campaign UK and other organisations worldwide have been campaigning for their release and in February this year, 38 organisations in 18 countries took part in a global day of action in support of the 34.

They were arrested 13 years ago on Landfall Island by the Indian Military. They appear to have been tricked by a rogue Indian Military intelligence official, who had told them they could land there with the permission and support of the military. These thirty-four resistance fighters never intentionally broke any Indian law. They thought they were in India with the permission of the Indian government.

The thirty-four come from two ethnic nationalities in Burma, Arakanese and Karen, which face persecution from the dictatorship ruling Burma. We are now working to make sure they are guaranteed safety and support, and that they will not be deported back to Burma. We are approaching European countries that may offer them sanctuary.

Political prisoners on hunger strike
Nearly 30 political prisoners, including seven women and three Buddhist Monks, are staging hunger strikes to demand better prison conditions.

Today, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) reported that 7 of the political prisoners who have been on a hunger strike in Insein Prison have been placed in solitary confinement in military dog cells, which are small cells where dogs are usually kept and notorious for brutal torture and extreme punishment.

AAPP has also learnt that the other political prisoners who have been on hunger strike may be transferred to remote prisons as a punishment.

On 16 May, Burma’s new dictator, Thein Sein, announced that all prisoners would have their sentences reduced by one year, and that those on death row would have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. This was designed to avoid releasing senior opposition leaders, many of whom were given sentences of 65 years or more after the pro-democracy uprising in 2007. One political prisoner is serving a 104 year sentence.

There had been speculation that there would be a mass prisoner amnesty, which happens regularly in Burma. However, Thein Sein is increasingly showing himself to be as or more hard-line than former dictator Than Shwe. In the first few months of becoming dictator, Than Shwe first acknowledged that there were political prisoners, and then released 427 political prisoners. Thein Sein’s government denies political prisoners even exist.

You can take action to help free political prisoners here:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/campaigns/actions/free-political-prisoners/political-prisoners-action

Campaign successes such as the release of the prisoners in India depend on you. We receive no government funding and most of our income is from individual supporters like you. Please support our work to free political prisoners, in addition to taking action, with a donation here:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/burma/donate/donate-now

Many thanks for your support.
Anna
Burma Campaign UK

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Support our work: Donate to Burma Campaign UK and make a difference today. You can be sure your donation will make a difference. Supporting Burma Campaign UK is one of the most effective ways of supporting the struggle to free Burma.
Donate now: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/donate
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London N1 6HT

U.S. Campaign FOR BURMA

Dear Mike,

There are moments when working towards democracy in Burma is difficult--when there is little light at the end of the tunnel.

For over twenty years, I have been engaged in one of the great struggles of our time.  For many of those years we have ended the year without significant progress. It has been difficult coming to the office to hear about another friend thrown into prison. Or to learn about another village burned, more families forced to flee for their lives.

Please consider making a contribution to our movement today as we enter a new, critical year for Burma.

But this year is different--we have two great gifts to celebrate. For the first time since the U.S. Campaign for Burma was founded, Aung San Suu Kyi is free. For the first time, we are working in concert with our leader mobilizing people to action.

Our second gift is the progress we have made towards finally holding the military regime accountable for its crimes. For years, the international community paid no attention while the regime denied abusing ethnic groups. But this lie is closer to being confronted by the international community after decades of neglect.

So there is much to celebrate as we end 2010. We want to thank you so much for your support and making these efforts possible. Our staff is small--only five people working full time. But we manage to magnify your voice and the voices of other Burma activists on the global stage.

This is due to your support: our grassroots supporters are the biggest funders for our campaign. Without you, we could not join together to make sure that the people of Burma know they have American support. Without you, we would not be able to push policymakers in Washington to make Burma a priority. Without you, we would not be able to secure millions of dollars of aid for survivors of the regime's atrocities. Without you, we would be missing a critical link in Burma's global solidarity movement.

Please consider making a contribution to our movement today as we enter a new, critical year for Burma.

We want you to know that your contribution to USCB leads directly to lives being saved on the ground in Burma. Your contribution has a huge multiplier affect--USCB helps secure U.S. funding of millions of dollars of "cross border" aid to groups working on Burma's borders. Last year, $4 million was sent to border groups who risk their lives by providing healthcare and education to Burma's conflict areas. Since 2006, we have secured tens of millions of US dollars for cross-border aid.

Your support also has a huge multiplier affect on global Burma policy. When the US leads on Burma policy, many countries follow. For example in August of this year Obama came out in support of an investigation into crimes against humanity in Burma. In the following month, 8 other countries announced their support. Our work really spans the globe and changes the international conversation on Burma.

Finally, we want to let you know that the people inside Burma working for change are well aware of American support for their cause. My friends inside Burma understand that they have an ally in the United States--and they are immensely grateful for your support.

Help us give Burma's democracy activists more support by making a year-end gift today.

You are part of one of the world's most significant global solidarity movements. For twenty years we have worked to restore hope to a country that is run by brutal dictators. Our movement showed its strength when Aung San Suu Kyi was released in November due to global pressure.

But we cannot stop here. We have much to do. We need your support to make sure that Aung San Suu Kyi's latest release translates into meaningful change in Burma, not more of the same. This support comes through your calls, emails, community events, film screenings, and your financial support. As we end the year, we are grateful for your time and consideration of supporting USCB.

Thank you for all of your support for the U.S. Campaign for Burma and the people of Burma. We are truly grateful to work with you in one of the great struggles of our time.

Have a Great New Year,


Aung Din
Executive Director
Former Burmese Political Prisoner
Support 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi and the struggle for freedom and democracy in Burma:

Sham Elections in Burma

Sham Elections in Burma 

Dear Tso Pema Ling, 

While the 'official' election results have not been announced, the people of Burma and the world already know the outcome: continued military rule and escalating violence.

General Election
The military regime held their election on Sunday, November 7, 2010.  Widespread fraud, voter intimidation, cheating, and irregularties were reported throughout the country.  It is clear that the authorities, election commission and the regime's party the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) worked together to secure victories for their USDP candidates.  Some democratic candidates who challenged the USDP candidates claimed yesterday that they won the election as they got more votes at the polling stations.  However, after all votes arrived to the Township Commission office and Commission officials added unspecified and unexpected advanced votes into the count, the results were effectively reversed and USDP candidates became the winners. As expected, the USDP will be the winners of almost all of the contested seats.  The National Democratic Force (NDF), a political party who defected from the National League for Democracy (NLD) and contested in the election have announced they would not accept the election results.  They now plan to file complaints against the USDP to the Election Commission, with little hope of success.

US Government Reaction
President Obama said: "The November 7th elections in Burma were neither free nor fair, and failed to meet any of the internationally accepted standards associated with legitimate elections.  The elections were based on a fundamentally flawed process and demonstrated the regime's continued preference for repression and restriction over inclusion and transparency."  Click here to read President Obama's full statement.

War and Refugees
On Election Day, November 7, 2010, fighting between the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) Brigade 5 and the Burmese Army broke out at an important border town, Myawaddy, on the Thai-Burma border.  The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) split from the Karen National Union (KNU) several years ago to ally with the regime.  Last year, some factions of the DKBA have transformed their troops into the Border Guard Force under the direct command of the Burmese Army.  But, some troops from DKBA Brigade 5 left the DKBA refusing to agree to work with the Burmese Army anymore. Amid reports Karen villagers were forced by the regime authorities to vote for the USDP candidates in the polls, the DKBA Brigade 5 attacked the Burmese Army and took control of some parts of Myawaddy.  As fighting broke out, tens of thousands of people fled to Thailand.  Several Burmese and Thai civilians in Myawaddy and Mae Sot were injured from being hit by heavy artillery.

On Monday, another DKBA troop, Battalion 907 took control of the Three Pagodas Township, also on the Thai-Burma border, opposite of Sangkhlaburi in Thailand.  Some police men and the regime's soldiers were killed during the fight and several government offices were burnt down by the DKBA troops.  Many residents fled to Thailand to avoid the fighting and being called for porters by warring troops.

More Ethnic Armies Join the Flighting
On Monday morning, another Karen rebel troop, called the Karen Peace Council, joined in the fight.  The troops attacked the regime's soldiers North of Myawaddy Township.  The New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Karen National Union (KNU) troops are also assisting DKBA troops at the Three Pagodas Pass.

To support these ethnic resistance troops, SSA-S (Shan State Army-South) has launched an attack against the regime's troops in Mong Yang, eastern Shan State early Monday.  Thai's authorities deployed more than 5,000 troops at the border to respond the situation.

Fighting subsided in Myawaddy on Tuesday and Thailand has ordered the 20,000 new refugees to return to Burma.  The situation remains tenuous and unstable, as fighting continues in other locations and people continue to flee.

Japanese Reporter Arrested and Charged
Toru Yamaji, the president of Tokyo-based video news provider APF, was arrested on November 7, 2010, in Myawaddy.  He entered Myawaddy by crossing the Moei River by boat from Thailand.  He is now being charged by the regime under Section 13 (1) of the Immigration Act (Emergency Provisions), which says violators can be punished "with imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or with a fine, or with both."

United Wa State Party's (UWSP) Announcement
One of the strongest ethnic ceasefire groups, which refuses to accept the regime's Border Guard Force plan and the elections issued an announcement on November 5, 2010, two days before the regime's election.  The statement makes it clear that the UWSP will not allow anyone to represent its region and the Wa people in this election and it will not bow to the pressure of the regime which forces it to become the regime's Border Guard Force.  It stated that they want to have a peaceful dialogue with the new Government, which may be formed in next three and a half months time.

Request from USCB Staff
In the lead up to the election the U.S. Campaign for Burma had long warned that this election would lead to increased hostilities between ethnic groups and the military regime.  Yesterday's events proved our worst fears. Now, we are working with our international partners to make sure that the United States and the international community call on the Burmese regime to stop all attacks to prevent more refugee flows and civilians deaths.

We need President Obama to immediately call on India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and ASEAN to condemn the Burma's fraudulent election while simultaneously pressuring the Burmese regime to stop attacks against ethnic groups.  We must capitalize on President Obama's presence in Asia to strengthen US cooperation with our strongest Asian allies on Burma.

Donate to us today to help our effort to make sure that President Obama makes Burma a priority during the rest of his Asian trip.  

Sincerely,

Aung Din, Jennifer, Nadi, Patrick and Myra

 

Support 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi and the struggle for freedom and democracy in Burma: Become a member of the U.S. Campaign for Burma. Or, make a tax-deductible donation today.

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Marcha por la Paz y la No Violencia

BARCELONA, 2 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

   Casi un centenar de personas han acudido este sábado a la primera 'Marcha por la Paz y la No Violencia' que se ha celebrado en Barcelona para "no dejar que caigan en el olvido" las personas a las que se les niegan los derechos fundamentales, y conmemorar el nacimiento de Gandhi, el 2 de octubre de 1869.

   En declaraciones a Europa Press, la presidenta de la Coordinadora Catalana de Entidades Budistas (CCEB), Montse Castellà, se ha mostrado satisfecha por el número de personas que han participado en el acto, pese a ser su primera edición, y ha avanzado que a partir de ahora se celebrará cada año.

   La Marcha ha arrancado en la Avenida María Cristina y ha terminado en el Castell de Montjuic, donde los participantes han dedicado unos minutos a la meditación y a la lectura de textos relacionados con el Tíbet, Vietnam y Birmania.

   La iniciativa ha sido organizada por la CCEB, conjuntamente con la Fundación Casa del Tíbet, Birmania por la Paz y la Sangha de Thich Nhat.

war crimes in Burma.

Dear friend

Please take action to help us persuade the EU to support a UN Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma.

Take action here:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/campaigns/actions/crimes-against-humanity/crimes-against-humanity

In March 2010, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Burma called for a United Nations Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma. The UK, USA, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Australia have all expressed their support for such an inquiry. However, the EU has so far remained silent on the issue.

This week, the EU is drafting the next UN General Assembly resolution on Burma. This resolution is an opportunity to turn words into action and the EU should ensure that the establishment of a UN Inquiry is included in the resolution.

Belgium is the current President of the EU Council and must take the lead in securing EU support for a UN Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma and ensuring the establishment of a UN Inquiry is in the United Nations General Assembly resolution.

We need your help to persuade them and we only have a few days!

Please take action and send an email to the Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme and Foreign Minister Steven Vanackere:

Take action here:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/campaigns/actions/crimes-against-humanity/crimes-against-humanity

Thank you for your support.

Anna
Burma Campaign UK

denunciar a la junta militar ( BIRMANIA )

lunes 6 de septiembre de 2010

La opositora y Nobel de la Paz Aung San Suu Kyi ha propuesto a sus ex compañeros de partido denunciar a la Junta Militar de Birmania (Myanmar) por disolver su formación política de cara a las elecciones del próximo 7 de noviembre, informaron hoy los medios de la disidencia.

Suu Kyi, de 65 años, indicó que la ley electoral en la que se basó la Junta Militar para ordenar la disolución de su partido, la Liga Nacional para la Democracia (LND), es injusta e ilegal.

'Aung San Suu Kyi nos comunicó que deberíamos denunciar al Gobierno por forzar la disolución de la Liga Nacional para la Democracia porque fue un proceso ilegal', indicó Nyan Win, uno de los abogados de la extinta LND.

Las autoridades birmanas ordenaron el pasado mayo la disolución de la LND, después de que Suu Kyi y otros líderes de la formación decidieran boicotear los comicios en protesta por las normas electorales aprobadas por la Junta Militar.

Esta nueva legislación prohíbe a la opositora birmana presentar su candidatura a un escaño del Parlamento por haber sido condenada y por el hecho de que estuvo casada con un extranjero, el profesor británico Michael Aris.

Muchos partidos independientes se han quejado de que no han podido presentar candidatos en muchas circunscripciones debido a las excesivas cuotas, mientras que los partidos oficialistas cuentan con al maquinaria del Estado a su favor.

La nueva Constitución reserva para los militares en activo una cuarta parte del total de los 440 escaños que constituirán el Parlamento.

El Gobierno birmano también ha rechazado las peticiones internacionales para que excarcele y deje participar en el plebiscito a los cerca de 2.200 presos políticos encerrados en los distintos penales del país.

Suu Kyi ha pasado bajo arresto domiciliario 14 de los últimos 21 años por exigir de manera pacífica reformas democráticas.

Birmania está gobernada por generales desde el golpe de Estado de 1962 y no celebra elecciones parlamentarias desde 1990, cuando la LND ganó con el 82 por ciento de los votos, resultado que la Junta Militar nunca acató y que anuló este año para poder legitimar los nuevos comicios.

denunciar a la junta militar ( BIRMANIA )

lunes 6 de septiembre de 2010

La opositora y Nobel de la Paz Aung San Suu Kyi ha propuesto a sus ex compañeros de partido denunciar a la Junta Militar de Birmania (Myanmar) por disolver su formación política de cara a las elecciones del próximo 7 de noviembre, informaron hoy los medios de la disidencia.

Suu Kyi, de 65 años, indicó que la ley electoral en la que se basó la Junta Militar para ordenar la disolución de su partido, la Liga Nacional para la Democracia (LND), es injusta e ilegal.

'Aung San Suu Kyi nos comunicó que deberíamos denunciar al Gobierno por forzar la disolución de la Liga Nacional para la Democracia porque fue un proceso ilegal', indicó Nyan Win, uno de los abogados de la extinta LND.

Las autoridades birmanas ordenaron el pasado mayo la disolución de la LND, después de que Suu Kyi y otros líderes de la formación decidieran boicotear los comicios en protesta por las normas electorales aprobadas por la Junta Militar.

Esta nueva legislación prohíbe a la opositora birmana presentar su candidatura a un escaño del Parlamento por haber sido condenada y por el hecho de que estuvo casada con un extranjero, el profesor británico Michael Aris.

Muchos partidos independientes se han quejado de que no han podido presentar candidatos en muchas circunscripciones debido a las excesivas cuotas, mientras que los partidos oficialistas cuentan con al maquinaria del Estado a su favor.

La nueva Constitución reserva para los militares en activo una cuarta parte del total de los 440 escaños que constituirán el Parlamento.

El Gobierno birmano también ha rechazado las peticiones internacionales para que excarcele y deje participar en el plebiscito a los cerca de 2.200 presos políticos encerrados en los distintos penales del país.

Suu Kyi ha pasado bajo arresto domiciliario 14 de los últimos 21 años por exigir de manera pacífica reformas democráticas.

Birmania está gobernada por generales desde el golpe de Estado de 1962 y no celebra elecciones parlamentarias desde 1990, cuando la LND ganó con el 82 por ciento de los votos, resultado que la Junta Militar nunca acató y que anuló este año para poder legitimar los nuevos comicios.

BURMA

Dear Mike,

Congratulations -- You did it! Because of your phone calls, emails and letters to your Senators and Representatives, the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act passed both Houses of Congress with more support than in any other year!

Today the Bill passed in the Senate 99-1!

A record number 68 Senators cosponsored this important piece of legislation -- and that's because of your extraordinary commitment to the struggling people of Burma and your determination to see democracy in action.

What does this victory mean for Burma? Before this legislation was introduced 7 years ago, US trade with Burma allowed American money to fund the Burmese military and its cronies. But once again, hundreds of millions of American dollars will be kept out of the hands of the military regime for another year.

Thank you for doing your part by calling or emailing your Senator and/or Representative -- you helped ensure this historic passage!

Keep up the good work, and call your Senators to help end crimes against humanity

Mike

Support 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi and the struggle for freedom and democracy in Burma:

Become a member of the U.S. Campaign for Burma.

Or, make a tax-deductible donation today.

Tribunal Penal Internacional

Amnistía Internacional (AI) ha denunciado que la restricción del principio de jurisdicción universal en España ha dejado "desamparadas" a la víctimas de crímenes de lesa humanidad cometidos en el Tíbet y Myanmar (antigua Birmania) y favorece la impunidad de los autores.

En el Día de la Justicia Internacional, el director de AI España, Esteban Beltrán, anima a los Estados a asumir un compromiso de apoyo al Tribunal Penal Internacional, sin anteponer sus intereses políticos, y a respaldar la jurisdicción universal sin trabas para perseguir, investigar y sancionar a los responsables de este tipo de delitos, cualesquiera que sean los autores y dondequiera que se cometan.

Cualquier limitación del principio de jurisdicción universal, según AI, no sólo resta a las víctimas un recurso valioso para la obtención de la verdad, justicia y reparación, tal como reconoce el Derecho Internacional, sino que también habilita "resquicios de impunidad" para los autores de los crímenes.

"El mensaje lanzado por España no puede ser más desalentador, ni más contrario a la evolución de la Justicia Internacional", enfatiza Beltrán en un comunicado.

El responsable de AI se refiere así a la reforma legislativa de octubre de 2009 que restringió "gravemente" la jurisdicción internacional para hacerla casi "inaplicable", ya que a partir de entonces se exige que las víctimas sean españolas o que el caso denunciado tenga una "conexión relevante" con España.

Esto ha significado, según AI, el archivo y la inadmisión a trámite, respectivamente, de las demandas presentadas en la Audiencia Nacional por las víctimas del Tíbet y Myanmar.

Noticias de Buddachannel ( Birmania )

Birmania: La no-violencia violentada

Lunes 12 de julio de 2010, por Brice Andlauer, noelia Palma, Sophie

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Birmania intenta dotarse de armas nucleares. La información fue confirmada la semana pasada por la Voz Democrática de Burma, una radio birmana independiente radicada en Oslo, en un documental precedido por una investigación de cinco años. Como budistas, o bien como testigos contemporáneos del drama a gran escala que en este momento se desarrolla en Birmania y en el resto del planeta, ¿qué podemos y debemos hacer?

El budismo doctrina la no-violencia. Sin embargo, incluso en el país de las mil pagodas, la no-violencia es violentada, asfixiada, martirizada. En una situación como esta, ¿es preferible la inacción, en nombre de la no-violencia, a la revuelta?

La no-violencia es a menudo entendida como una ideología pacifista, idealista, desprovista de cualquier forma tangible de activismo. Ahora bien, compromiso y no-violencia no parecen totalmente incompatibles, al contrario. Algunas personas utilizan la no-violencia como un arma, una actitud que demuestra a veces ser un medio de acción temible contra las injusticias. Eso es lo que los monjes budistas hicieron en Birmania, durante la Revolución Azafrán en 2007, de la que conocemos el trágico desenlace.

La no-violencia juega con la ventaja de poder sacarle al adversario la parte de bondad que todo hombre tiene en él. Sin embargo, parece que otros factores esenciales deberían ser tenidos en cuenta. En el cuadro de una acción no-violenta de la amplitud Birmana, la acción de los manifestantes debe ser conocida por muchos para ejercer presión en el adversario. Los medios cumplen un rol esencial en Birmania, la opinión pública, exige un arma extremadamente potente para hacer cambiar las cosas.

La noción de número es esencial en la no-violencia. La actitud no-violenta funciona si las relaciones de fuerza son favorables a los no-violentos. Si el adversario sabe que nos no-violentos son más fuertes de lo que puede hacer frente, evitará el enfrentamiento.

Solo que la junta birmana es poderosa, riquísima, y el reino de la violencia hace cada día más estragos en el país. La eficacia de la no-violencia parece haber llegado a un punto de ruptura en el interior del país, donde la situación parece totalmente bloqueada, y el apoyo del exterior es vital.

La comunidad internacional tiene un rol fundamental a jugar. Se trata de ejercer una presión no-violenta, continua y coordinada sobre el régimen birmano. Puesto que el comercio es el único enlace que Birmania conserva con el exterior, la comunidad internacional debería hacer concesiones sobre sus intereses económicos en este país hasta que la situación política se normalice. Si el régimen birmano estuviera solo, frente a la absurdidad de sus métodos escandalosos y totalitarios, ¿se mostraría más dsipuesta a hacer algunas concesiones ?

La comunidad internacional debe accionar todos los frenos de los que dispone para impedir al régimen birmano dotarse del arma nuclear. Si la junta se provee del arma nuclear, se situará en un nivel de igualdad con las otras grandes potencias mundiales, y la resolución del problema birmano será más delicada de lo que ya es.

La no-violencia tiene todavía sentido en Birmania, pero a día de hoy, le hace falta apoyos fundamentales para funcionar: una presión sobre el régimen fuerte, concreta, coordinada y ejercida conjuntamente por la opinión pública y la comunidad internacional.

No olividemos a los Birmanos, no olvidemos Birmania.

Brice Andlauer et Sophie Alvarez para Buddhachannel
Traducción: Noelia Palma

Please write to your MP asking them to sign a Motion for Aung San Suu Kyi

Please write to your MP asking them to sign a Motion fori Aung San Suu Ky

A new motion (a kind of Parliamentary petition) on Burma has been put down in the British Parliament. The Motion – HUMAN RIGHTS IN BURMA – sends best wishes to Aung San Suu Kyi, who on 19th June 2010 will be spending her 65th birthday in detention.

It also calls on the British government to work with the UN to persuade Burma’s generals to enter into negotiations with Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic groups, instead of doing nothing ahead of fake elections planned later this year.

Please write to your MP asking them to support Early Day Motion 112.

Take action here:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/campaigns/actions/free-aung-san-suu-kyi/free-aung-san-suu-kyi

Or you can post a letter to your MP.

Key points to make include:

· Aung San Suu Kyi will be spending her 65th birthday in detention, and has now been detained for almost 15 years.

· It is important that the British Parliament show that the world has not forgotten Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma.

· A fake election due later this year will not bring democratic change or democracy to Burma.

· The British government and international community must support the United Nations in persuading the dictatorship to enter into negotiations with Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic representatives.

You can send your letter to your MP at:
House of Commons
London, SW1A 0AA

Thank you.
Anna
Burma Campaign UK


Early Day Motion 112: Human Rights In Burma

That this House sends its best wishes to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who will spend her 65th birthday in detention on 19 June 2010; calls for the immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma; rejects the elections planned by Burma's generals later this year which, due to election laws and ongoing repression in Burma, cannot be free and fair; condemns Burma's new constitution which is designed to maintain dictatorship in civilian guise and does not grant rights or protection to Burma's ethnic minorities; notes that all diplomatic efforts to reform the dictatorship's sham roadmap to democracy have failed; recalls that the United Nations Security Council, General Assembly, Secretary General and Human Rights Council have all stated that the solution to the problems in Burma lies in dialogue between the dictatorship, Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, and ethnic representatives; and calls on the Government to support a United Nations-led effort to pressure the dictatorship to enter into such dialogue.



Support our work: Donate to the Burma Campaign UK and make a difference today. You can be sure your donation will make a difference. Supporting the Burma Campaign UK is one of the most effective ways of supporting the struggle to free Burma.
Donate now: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/donate
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Inside Burma's Secret State

Dear friend
We thought you might be interested in Unreported World ‘Inside Burma's Secret State‘ on Channel 4 tonight at 7.35pm.

Reporter Seyi Rhodes and director Simon Phillips spend two weeks trekking through forests to reveal the devastation the Burmese army is inflicting as it intensifies its war against the Karen people.

You can find out more here:
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/unreported-world/episode-guide/series-2010/episode-5

For those outside the UK, the programme will be available on the website soon:
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/4od

All the best
Anna
Burma Campaign UK

Support our work: Donate to the Burma Campaign UK and make a difference today. You can be sure your donation will make a difference. Supporting the Burma Campaign UK is one of the most effective ways of supporting the struggle to free Burma.
Donate now: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/donate
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Burma Campaign UK
Registered Company No. 3804730
Registered office address
28 Charles Square
London N1 6HT

denegacion de asistencia médica a Ko Mya Sí

Anna Roberts ✆ para burmacampaign

mostrar detalles 11:19 (41 minutos antes)

Dear friend

We are extremely concerned for the health of leading democracy activist Ko Mya Aye, who is being denied access to proper medical treatment he urgently needs for a heart condition.

Ko Mya Aye is one of the leaders of 88 Generation Students Group, which led protests in 1988 and again in 2007. He is currently detained Taungyi Prison in Shan State, many miles from emergency medical care, and too far away for family to make regular visits.

Take action now to demand the dictatorship allow medical treatment for Ko Mya Aye!

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/campaigns/actions/free-political-prisoners/political-prisoners-action

Ko Mya Aye appears to be suffering from angina, which has recently become unstable causing heart failure and requiring urgent medical treatment. He is also suffering from hypertension and gastric problems. He needs proper medical tests that can only be done in Rangoon, and will probably require an angioplasty operation or coronary artery bypass graft. So far there have been none of the required medical tests or operations. Another angina attack without access to emergency medical care would be very serious.

Ko Mya Aye is also being held in conditions which are making his health condition much worse. On his arrival in the jail he was put in a cell which is for death row prisoners, and denied any exercise. There is no toilet or running water in the cell and he has to go toilet in an open field by the prison with no privacy.

Burma’s generals systematically use the denial of medical treatment to mistreat and abuse political prisoners. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) estimates that 137 political prisoners are in poor health as a result of harsh medical conditions or being denied proper medical care.

Please take action now.

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/campaigns/actions/free-political-prisoners/political-prisoners-action

Thank you for your support.

Anna Roberts
Burma Campaign UK

Support our work: Donate to the Burma Campaign UK and make a difference today. You can be sure your donation will make a difference. Supporting the Burma Campaign UK is one of the most effective ways of supporting the struggle to free Burma.
Donate now: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/donate
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Burma Campaign UK
Registered Company No. 3804730
Registered office address
28 Charles Square
London N1 6HT

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que casualidad CHINA vende armas a Birmania !

La NLD, el partido de Suu Kyi, será ilegal a partir de mañana

miércoles 5 de mayo de 2010

La Liga Nacional para la Democracia (NLD) será disuelta mañana, 6 de mayo de 2010, debido a su rechazo a inscribirse de cara a las próxima elecciones. El Comité Ejecutivo Central del partido tomó esta decisión como protesta por la exclusión de su líder, Aung San Suu Kyi. Algunas fuentes indican que el malestar y el odio contra la dictadura militar está aumentando.

La NLD, el principal partido de la oposición a la junta militar que dirige Birmania, será disuelto el 6 de mayo. Después de 21 años, la victoria electoral de 1990 (que nunca fue aceptada por la junta), y el premio Nobel de la Paz para Aung San Suu Kyi (que ha pasado 14 años bajo arresto domiciliario), la NLD será declarada ilegal porque ha rechazado inscribirse para las próximas elecciones. El Comité Ejecutivo Central votó de manera unánime en contra de participar en estas elecciones, una decisión muy difícil de tomar, para protestar contra las leyes electorales, especialmente la que exige a los partidos que expulse de sus filas a aquellos miembros que sufran condenas. Esta ley está hecha a medida para obligar a la NLD a expulsar a Suu Kyi, así como a aquellos de los 2.100 presos políticos que tiene el país y que militan en sus filas.

Del mismo modo que Suu Kyi, muchos de los miembros más importantes del partido han sufrido maltratos, torturas, y han sido encarcelados por sus opiniones. Más aún, la NLD dice que la lucha por la democracia en Birmania continuará contra la dictadura militar, que ha dirigido el país desde 1962.

"No estamos tristes," ha dicho Tin Oo, número dos de la NLD, de 83 años, quien ha sufrido varias condenas de prisión. "Tenemos honor. Algún día volveremos; nos reencarnaremos por deseo del pueblo."

En unos días los militares eliminarán banderas y otros símbolos de los locales del partido en Rangún. No importa, "No vamos a desmantelar el partido nosotros," dice Win Tin, el veterano activista de 80 años que fue liberado en 2008 después de 19 años en prisión. "Pero recordad," añadió, "esto no es nada nuevo para nosotros. Hemos visto nuestras oficinas cerradas en todo el país, nuestra banderas y símbolos arrancados. Estamos acostumbrados a la represión."

Las elecciones generales están programadas entre octubre y noviembre de este año, pero aún no tienen fecha fija. Su propósito es fortalecer el control que la junta tiene sobre el país. Un cuarto de los asientos del nuevo parlamento está reservado a los militares; los soldados que han dejado recientemente la vida castrense se presentarán de manera separada como civiles, un modo de aumentar el poder militar en la legislatura.

La líder de la oposición, Aung San Suu Kyi, ha sido excluida por una ley hecha específicamente para apartarla.

La junta no ha visto ninguna dificultad por parte de la comunidad internacional, que ha permanecido de manera indiferente a los hechos acaecidos en la antigua Birmania (hoy Unión de Myanmar) y que no ha presentado objeciones importantes a estas elecciones. Muchos países, de hecho, siguen haciendo negocios con el régimen sin importarles el sufrimiento del pueblo de Birmania.

La semana pasada, el Primer Ministro birmano, Thein Sein, y otros 20 oficiales dejaron el ejército y crearon su propio partido, que seguramente ganará de manera aplastante. Lo llamaron el Partido de la Unión, la Solidaridad y el Desarrollo (Union Solidarity and Development Party - USDP) y representará el ala civil del régimen militar que seguirá mandando en Birmania.

Hoy, fuentes oficiales han dicho que un total de 25 partidos se han inscrito, de los que 12 han sido admitidos por la Comisión Electoral.

Algunas fuentes indican que el pueblo llano se está sintiendo, poco a poco, insatisfecho con el giro de los eventos; una cierta disconformidad se está asentando y el odio por la junta está creciendo.

En un hecho sin precedentes, un hombre se inmoló en una comisaría, probablemente movido por esta "atmósfera de odio contra el régimen."

Visto en Asia News a través de Birmania por la paz.

Si te ha interesado este artículo, compártelo.

Aung San Suu Kyi's Message to the People of the World

the U.S. book release of Undaunted by Zoya Phan

Dear Mike, We are thrilled to announce the U.S. book release of Undaunted by Zoya Phan, a prominent Karen leader and Burma activist, and International Coordinator of the Burma Campaign UK. Released in the U.S. on May 4, 2010, Zoya Phan's new book, Undaunted, chronicles her full life story from her harrowing childhood in remote jungles of Eastern Burma home to the Karen ethnic group, to her frustrating years at a Thai refugee camp, to her escape and emergence as an iconic Burma activist after agents of the Burmese regime assassinated her freedom-fighter father in 2008. This book comes at an opportune time to shed light on Burma. As the regime plans to hold upcoming sham elections that will institutionalize impunity and prolong military control of the country, dictator Than Shwe is attempting to forcibly bring all ethnic minorities under his iron grip, even if it means burning down hundreds of villages, killing innocent people and driving tens of thousands of civilians out of their homes and into hiding. Undaunted paints a vivid picture of the long-overlooked plight of Burma's Karen people and their inspiring struggle against injustice and oppression. It offers a very personal perspective on the longest running civil war in the world, telling of individual courage and the capacity to overcome and triumph. But much more than, it tells the story of Zoya, a person well worth reading about. Undaunted is now available. Click here to purchase it. Sincerely, Nadi Hlaing Development Assistant, the U.S. Campaign for Burma "Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu/ We are people through other people." Support 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi and the struggle for freedom and democracy in Burma: Become a member of the U.S. Campaign for Burma. Or, make a tax-deductible donation today.

Give the Gift of Freedom to Imprisoned Mothers of Burma

"Only if we end this bad system the future of the people of Burma, including my daughter, will be bright. I love my daughter. I had to leave her, but I believe she will later understand why."
~ Nilar Thein, imprisoned mother and democracy activist


Dear Mike,

Nilar Thein is one of hundreds of women political prisons in Burma. The regime sentenced her to 65 years for writing a letter to the UN urging the international community to protect the women of Burma. On this year's Mother's Day, let us remember the sacrifices and determination of women activists like Nilar Thein, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other women political prisons in Burma who have dedicated their lives to democracy and human rights.

Will you join us in honoring these courageous women on Mother's Day? Show your solidarity by signing up to host an Arrest Yourself event.

Now more than ever, these heroines need the support of the world. Ahead of the 2010 elections the military is tightening its repressive grip and jailing scores of women political activists in an attempt to silence their voices. We must not turn a blind eye to such injustices. Complacency is complicity. As members of this global community, it is our duty to help amplify the calls of these brave women activists and continue their struggle for democratic values that so many of them have given their lives and freedoms to achieve.

Be a part of our Arrest Yourself campaign to show your solidarity with these brave women of Burma. Join us in answering Aung San Suu Kyi's call to "use our liberty to promote theirs." 200 people have already signed up to host parties across the United States. Now its your turn.

At this year's Arrest Yourself campaign, we will raise awareness for these courageous mothers of Burma and inspire millions to get involved and fight for their immediate and unconditional release. Let us make sure that come next year, Nilar Thein and other imprisoned women activists in Burma will be reunited with their family and celebrate Mother's Day with their children.

Sign up now to host an Arrest Yourself event.

With hope,

Nadi Hlaing
Development Assistant, U.S. Campaign for Burma
(202) 234-8022
nadi@uscampaignforburma.org

"Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu/ We are people through other people."

Support 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi and the struggle for freedom and democracy in Burma:

Become a member of the U.S. Campaign for Burma.

Or, make a tax-deductible donation today.

HBO will screen the academy award nominated film Burma VJ tonight!

Dear Mike,

HBO will screen the academy award nominated film Burma VJ tonight! Be sure to tune in if you have HBO or ask a friend who does if you can tune in on their TV. Check out the film's compelling trailer.

I saw Burma VJ for the first time one year ago and was extremely impressed and deeply moved. Since then I have revisited the film often. I continue to be captivated and inspired by the images of thousands of civilian protesters, emboldened by the selfless commitment of monks, marching on the streets of Burma and courageously demanding freedom. The film tells the riveting story of the 2007 Saffron Revolution through the eyes of undercover video journalists (VJs) who smuggled video footage of the popular uprising and the brutal military crackdown, risking torture and life in jail. Click here for the complete HBO schedule.

For those of you in the United States the film will air at 9:30 PM Eastern, 8:30 PM Central, 10:30 PM Mountain, and 9:30 PM Pacific Time. Click here for more broadcast details.

Inspired by the film and want to help? Email President Obama asking him to support a UN Commission of Inquiry for Burma!

Michael Haack
Campaigns Coordinator
U.S. Campaign for Burma

Support 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi and the struggle for freedom and democracy in Burma:

Become a member of the U.S. Campaign for Burma.

Or, make a tax-deductible donation today.