Burma

From English Pen:

FREEDOM WRIT LARGE

Stand in solidarity with Aung San Suu Kyi and the writers of Burma
English PEN event Thursday 25 October, 7pm

We have watched aghast while the Burmese people have courageously demonstrated against repression and suffered the brutal consequences. New arrests are made every day, and the true number of the detained and disappeared remains unknown. The Myanmar authorities are withholding information about the location of these political prisoners, as well as the charges and conditions they are facing.

PEN knows of at least six journalists and poets who were arrested as a result of organising or reporting the protests. They join a large number of writers who have been imprisoned, harassed and persecuted for decades, many of whom continue, despite the odds, to smuggle out their pro-democracy opinions – including poetry expressing their personal concern for one another. It is time to stand in solidarity with them and support their right to freedom of expression.

On Thursday 25 October at 7pm English PEN is hosting an evening dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi and other writers who are voices of conscience in Burma. New English translations of their work will be read alongside their remarkable personal stories and previously unseen film footage of interviews with Burmese writers will be shown, including the last interview with the admired comedian and poet Zargana, filmed before he was arrested last month. The event will also be an opportunity to hear the views of Burmese exiles and some of Britain’s leading writers on the recent protests in Burma. It will close with the signing of an open letter of support to Aung San Suu Kyi.

Speakers and readers include:

John Pilger, journalist and human rights campaigner

Benedict Rogers, expert on Burma

Pascal Khoo Thwe, the acclaimed Burmese novelist

Justin Wintle, Aung San Suu Kyi’s most recent biographer

Maureen Lipman, long dedicated to the Burmese cause

Zoya Phan, Burma Campaign UK spokeswoman

Melissa Benn, novelist and journalist



All proceeds will go to support English PEN’s Writers in Prison Programme and to directly benefit Burmese writers now in exile or under threat.

Time: Thursday 25 October - 7pm
Venue: Guardian Newsroom, 60 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3GA
Tickets: £10 members, £12.50 non-members

Tickets include a complimentary glass of wine after the talk, courtesy of Waitrose Wine

To book: Call 020 7713 0023 or book online.

Don't Forget Burma

Britney or Burma? I've just opened this email (below) from a Burmese friend:

Hi all

Dan and I and some friends went to the London rally in support of the monks and people of Burma yesterday. There was a small but significant number of us - 1500 people.The monks threw rose petals into the Thames in remembrance of those who have died and are suffering in Burma - a moving image.

30,000 people attend a Man United football match, a team beloved by the Burmese. The parents of Madeleine McCann had extensive worldwide coverage of their tragedy. Tens of thousands of children, women and young men and old are repressed, intimidated and thousands have died in Burma. The news reports in the UK are about Britney Spears or the non-event of a general election - don't forget the people of Burma. You can help in small ways see below. If you are on Facebook - please spread the message.

Heartfelt thanks

Cathy

Your message GLOBAL ROAR was FWDed to 200 or more young Burmese expatriates around the world, urging them to to distribute it to their friends and contacts.
********************
Below is another great idea to let the Beijing government know many hundreds of people refuse to buy Beijing Olympics 2008 tickets. A friend passed the message to me.
Subject: Help Burma
Dear all,

I am contacting my friends, family, and beyond, because I feel we need to
show solidarity and support each other during these critical times. Never
before have I seen so much international interest and awareness in the
situation in Burma. For perhaps the first time in nearly half a century of
oppression by the brutal dictatorship, the Burmese people have got the
world listening. That fills me with some hope, because it is through this
global action that I believe change can be made.

I know the events are very emotive, but at present I think we must try to
compose ourselves and avoid acting on our anger, as this could actually
compromise the safety of those we love in Burma, despite the best of our
intentions.

This doesn't mean we can't make a difference. I thought you might like to
know about a movement that my friends and I are involved in. If you like
this idea, please pass it on, post it on a blog, or share it on Facebook.
Only if people are aware can they influence change. Please see the
remainder of this email for details.



============================================

*HOW?*
If everybody we know emails a request (not for tickets, but for China's
action for Burma) to ticketsupport@beijing2008.cn, it will significantly
slow down Olympics ticket sales and call China's attention to the
matter. China may ignore protests, hunger strikes, petitions,
wearing-red shirts, etc. But China cannot ignore these emails, which get
in the way of processing Olympics ticket requests.

Please see the template at the bottom. Please also pledge to send the
same email every 6 hours, or every time you check your email. If they
get tens of thousands of email a day, they will have to do something
about it.

*WHY?*
"The consensus around the European Parliament is that China is the key.
China is the puppet master of Burma. The Olympics is the only real lever
we have to make China act. The civilised world must seriously consider
shunning China by using the Beijing Olympics to send the clear message
that such abuses of human rights are not acceptable."
- Vice president of the European Parliament Edward McMillan-Scott.

China should use its leverage to bring reconciliation and peace in
Burma . However, it recently vetoed a Security Council resolution on
Burma . Yet with the threat of Olympics boycott, China has yielded
significantly to condemn Sudan's genocidal regime.

Please note that this action is NOT an actual boycott. If you have
questions about the topic of Olympics boycott, please read attached notes.

============================================

Send to * ticketsupport@beijing2008.cn *every 6 hours, or every time you
check your email.

Subject: re: tickets

Dear Sirs,

I am very interested in purchasing tickets to some of the events at next
year's Olympic Games.

However I cannot, in good conscience, attend the Bejing Olympics unless
your government uses its influence to improve the political situation in
Burma . China has substantial economic interests in the country, provides
large amounts of economic aid, and invests heavily in infrastructure
projects there. Additionally, your government provides extensive
logistical support to Burma 's military government. All this make China
uniquely placed to influence it.

The people of Burma have, in a very peaceful manner, insisted that their
rights be respected. I ask no more of your government than that it cease
its support for the current regime, and encourage a dialogue with the
democratically elected representatives of the Burmese nation.

I, the Burmese people, and the world would be grateful for your
assistance in this matter. Your courage will go a long way towards
making the 2008 Olympics a success.

With sincere thanks,
(your name)

global roar

If you're like me and have been scouring the paper daily to see what's happening in Burma only to find a small paragraph on page 23, there's a on-line petition here to help show the people of Burma they've not been forgotten.