The other day I learnt a lesson. It was something I admit I had no idea about, but it was one I really needed to know. One that I am ashamed of the fact I lacked the knowledge.
On November 13th the prodemocracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest. The Nobel Peace Prize winner had been detained for 15 of the last 21 years. I knew about her... of course I did. I knew why she was detained... the uninvited guest story and more but what I didn’t know is she is only 1 of many who are detained. What I didn’t know is what is really happening in Burma. Amnesty International estimates that there are around 2200 political prisoners being held in terrible conditions, most for simply exercising their rights to protest peacefully.
However this is really the tip of the iceberg, many more things go on in Burma than any of us know about. It is not highly publicised. It was this video by Amnesty that made me want to know more.
Radios for Burma from
Amnesty International on Vimeo.
Watching how the workers had to take such risks just to get radios to the people shocked me. Then I read a report by www.partnersworld.org.nz
This catalogues a list of breaches of Human Rights legislation in Eastern Burma alone. Workers risked their lives to help these people and collect data for the report, and the 125 pages makes grim reading.
Children and families displaced from their homes, breaking the HR legislation that the Burmese Authorities have signed up to. But this is not all. They give examples of rape (men, women and children), murder, torture, arrest and detention. Together with forced labour, child soldiers, religious persecution and more.
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| People fleeing from the Burmese Army carrying all they can... |
Added to this when natural disasters such as Cyclones and famine have occurred, humanitarian relief is restricted. The UN were actually delayed in supplying help after Cyclone Nargis in 2008. The Red Cross and Médicin Sans Frontières have been forced to withdraw or greatly reduce their involvement. This inevitably has led to Malnutrition and disease, there is little proper food, or clean water. Access to healthcare is unheard of... and education? Well these are for other times.
There is so much more to tell, I am only just beginning to research this, but it is something that has touched me very deeply and I hope to be able to raise awareness. I am not brave enough to volunteer to help in these areas but I can write... so there will be more to come.
But for now what can we do to help?
Think of buying and donating a radio... this can be done here... Protect the Human
Or Donate to: www.burmacampaign.org.uk
Anyone can help and remember the words of Aung San Suu Kyi on her release.
“There is a time to be quiet and a time to talk, people must work in unison, only then can we achieve our goal”
Together we can make a difference.
Wonderfull! Thanks for writing!!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written Sue. It's something I have been aware of for a while. So tragic that they allow this to continue. x
ReplyDelete