Thursday, November 15, 2012

US Campaign for Burma: Obama visit

Tell Obama to put Burma’s urgent human rights concerns above economic interests




President Obama is going to Burma – in less than one week!  He will be the first US President to visit Burma EVER. 

Please join us in demanding Obama put Burma’s urgent human rights concerns above economic interests and limited political reforms.
President Obama would love to paint a positive picture of Burma for his visit, a success of his principled engagement policy; some political prisoners have been released, Aung San Suu Kyi is now a member of Parliament. But very serious human rights concerns remain.

Hundreds of political prisoners still remain behind bars, the Burmese Army's war against the Kachin rages on, inter-communal violence in Arakan state has turned into the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya Muslims minority, and denial of humanitarian access in many areas are just some of the extremely disconcerting human rights concerns people are currently facing.

It is time President Obama take action on behalf of the most persecuted people of Burma. Demand President Obama call on President Thein Sein to accept international peacekeepers and monitors in Arakan State, demand an end to the war against the Kachin and allow humanitarian access to all populations in need. 

Now is not the time for celebration, Burma is not a democracy yet. The Kachin, the Rohingya and all Burma’s ethnic minorities have almost been all but forgotten by the international community this year – let’s show them we stand with them.

In solidarity,

Jennifer Quigley

No comments: