• Suu Kyi in prison under charges of violating house arrest
  
  
• Burma still suffering from the effect of Cyclone Nargis
  
  
• A history of oppression, poverty, and strife
  
  
• Make a difference in Burma
  
  

May, 2009: Suu Kyi in prison, charged with violating house arrest

Burma's pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, under illegitimate house arrest by the military junta for thirteen of the past nineteen years, is now in prison. If convicted of the false charges brought against her by the junta, she faces an additional three to five years in prison.

The charge of violating her house arrest by inviting a foreigner into her home, which refers to American John William Yettaw's recent attempt to secretly attain entrance, is an unsupported accusation. Suu Kyi's communications of all kinds have been restricted by the junta.

The junta, which seized power after Suu Kyi's overwhelming victory in Burma's democratic elections of 1990, view her as their primary political opposition. Her unjust detention has been extended in violation of Burma's own laws on multiple occasions, and it is likely that this charge just is another reason to detain her indefinitely while the junta attempts to legitimize its stranglehold on power.

The military junta which is currently in power is guilty of numerous violent crimes against its own citizens and against humanity. The Burmese population, already plagued by poverty and disease, deteriorating health and education systems, and human trafficking, must also bear the junta's two-decade suspension of the constitution, gross economical mismanagement, forced military conscription of children, and repression of ethnic groups such as the Karen tribe.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee in 1991 lauded Suu Kyi's struggle as "one of the most extraordinary examples of civil courage in Asia in recent decades." The junta has committed violent acts against its own citizens and against humanity. Peaceful protests for democracy by Buddhist monks and the Burmese people have been met with arrests, disappearances, and violence in untold numbers.

Add your voice to the millions calling for Suu Kyi's release.

May, 2009: One year later, Burma is still suffering from the effect of Cyclone Nargis.

On May 2^nd and 3^rd, 2008, a violent, powerful cyclone ravaged the Southeast Asian country of Burma (Myanmar).

The condition of the roads and the unconscionable obstructionism of the military rulers of Burma made delivering aid to victims of the cyclone a challenge. The junta restricted what international aid they allowed into the country primarily to the city of Rangoon. Survivors outside the city, in the Irrawaddy Delta, and in other affected areas were in severe need of food, shelter, and clean water. Every day put them in further danger from exposure, starvation, and disease.

The United Nations estimates that roughly 140,000 people were killed, and the some 2.4 million others were devastated by the storm, losing shelter, food, jobs, and land. Urban centers have been able to rebound more quickly than the farming community and villages, especially those in the Irrawaddy Delta.

Today, the greatest natural disaster Burma has ever faced continues to put affected populations at risk. Once-fertile regions remain inundated by salt from the influx of sea water, leaving fields and paddies barren and wells full of brackish, undrinkable water. Although food and water is still being provided to some cyclone victims by international aid groups, there are few jobs and little housing. Poverty is rampant, and the road to recovery is long and difficult.

Despite these overwhelming odds, there is hope, and people like you can and are helping every day.

Last year, GreaterGood.org provided over $70,000 in donations to the Foundation for the People of Burma to help survivors of Cyclone Nargis. FPB continues to bring aid to survivors, supplying rice, water purification tablets, tarps and ropes for shelter, medicine, and sanitary supplies. They have also based medical teams in the delta, sending volunteers to remote villages with crucial medical supplies. And they are establishing "child spaces" in hard-hit communities to protect and nurture one of the most vulnerable populations affected by the storm — Burma's children.

"Our warmest thanks to The Hunger Site and GreaterGood.org for their rapid response and deep concern for the current plight of the people in Burma. We are impressed and grateful for their incredible mobilizing efforts which have resulted in food, water, shelter and healthcare for thousands of storm victims during the critical first twelve days after Cyclone Nargis. We have shared with our Burmese staff and friends news of your generosity and compassion. It truly makes a difference."

The Crisis in Burma Began Long Before Cyclone Nargis

Burma, the largest country in Southeast Asia, and one of Asia's poorest, has suffered oppression and extreme poverty for nearly three decades under the rule of a brutal military-led government. It is this military junta which renamed the country to the Union of Myanmar, a controversial name change which to this day is not recognized by many nations.

Rampant poverty, denial of basic human rights, and a rash of violence against peaceful protestors led to global concern about the atrocities occurring in the region years before the latest disaster of the cyclone further devastated the country and the Burmese people. In 1990, democratic elections led to a landslide victory by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi, who never made it into office. She remains under house arrest today by the military junta still in power. Peaceful protests for democracy by Buddhist monks and the Burmese people have been met with arrests, disappearances, and violence in untold numbers.

You can make a difference. Learn more about events in Burma, and take action!

The following information was taken with permission from the U.S. Campaign for Burma .

Visit them at uscampaignforburma.org .

Eastern Burma: Ignored Brutality

3,000 Villages Destroyed in Burma, 1 million refugees, and the UN Security Council Does Nothing

It is one of the most forgotten areas of the world; a place where mass displacement, forced labor, rape, torture, and all forms of persecution are a common reality. The destruction of over three thousand villages has led to the worst humanitarian situation in Asia. The ruling military junta in Burma maintains a steady strangulation throughout the country, and especially over the ethnic minorities in eastern Burma. These mass atrocities have been able to continue because of the support of countries such as China, whose cash, weapons, and political support ensure that the generals' grip on power will remain.

Courage and Outrage

The largest peaceful demonstrations in Burma in 10 years, and the regime responds with brutal force. On September 5th, troops are sent in for first time and fire warning shots at monks.

On August 15th, the regime hiked up fuel prices - up to quintupling the price of natural gas; this is despite the fact that the regime makes billions from the export of oil and natural gas. Then on the 19th, peaceful protests began in the capital Rangoon, and since then have spread. The speculations that protests would die down in Burma have proven wrong, and even though over 150 activists for democracy have been arrested so far, many people are stepping up and calling for an end to injustice. Day after day people continue to march through the streets in towns all over Burma, making their simple and peaceful demands.



Many are also calling for recognition of basic human rights and democracy. Their courage is reminiscent of the history of the brave people of Argentina, Peru, East Timor, South Africa, India, and elsewhere in which peaceful demonstrators have faced deadly force with nothing more than their belief in telling the truth. Dozens have been beaten, arrested, and carted off to Burma's feared torture centers. Many governments, organizations, and world leaders have spoken out against this crackdown, and we are asking the UN Security Council to take action.

Red Cross Condemns Burma's Abuses

Harshest Criticism Since Rwandan Genocide

The International Committee of the Red Cross usually maintains a neutral position; however, at the end of June this year, the ICRC strongly condemned the regime on grounds of forced labor and repeated atrocities committed against groups in eastern Burma- including murder, violence, arbitrary arrest and 'large scale' destruction of food supplies. According to the BBC, this is the strongest public criticism since it spoke out against the Rwandan genocide over a decade ago. ICRC president, Kellenberger, noted that the reason for this harsh statement is the "continuing deadlock" with the authorities.

YOU Can Make A Difference

The Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2007

Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA) introduced new sanctions to cut off major revenue from Burma's military junta. The Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti- Democratic Efforts) Act has the power to force the regime to negotiate with Burma's democracy leaders and Ethnic nationalities. The regime makes hundreds of millions of dollars each year of the sale of gems. More than 90 percent of the world's rubies and fine-quality jade comes from Burma. The new sanctions crack down on the regime's practice of avoiding U.S. sanctions by laundering gemstones through third countries before they are sold.

This act also freezes the assets of Burmese political and military leaders, prevents Burma from using U.S. financial institutions via third countries to launder the funds of those leaders or their immediate families, and prohibits Burmese officials involved in the violent suppression of protesters from receiving visas to the United States. "This legislation will turn off a huge cash spigot for the thuggish Burmese regime," Lantos said. "If my colleagues come together and act quickly to pass these new sanctions, we can put an end to huge profits for the junta and its unscrupulous middle-men. We must ensure that the sale of some of the Earth's most beautiful natural resources does not continue to enable the horrors inflicted upon the people of Burma."

Burma also uses third countries to access the U.S. banking system. These overseas banks process accounts in and through the United States for Burma's rulers, providing the regime with much-needed hard currency. The regime uses these funds to purchase weapons and luxury goods, while the bulk of Burma's population lives in poverty. Lantos' legislation tightens existing sanctions to prevent Burma's military rulers from profiting from sales to the United States, and blocks access to the U.S. financial system not just for Burmese human rights violators but also to those who provide the regime with banking services.

The Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act was passed in July of 2008, the strongest action yet that the U.S. takes to pressure Burma's military regime to negotiate with Burma's democracy leaders and ethnic nationalities.

Contact Your Representative!

You can make a difference! On top of brutally crushing thousands of peaceful demonstrators, including monks, the military regime has destroyed more than 3,000 villages. It has forcibly displaced more than half a million people inside Burma as well as causing a million refugees to flee across the border to neighboring countries and has made no efforts to move toward democracy. It is important to send a strong signal to the regime that the US government will continue to keep American money out the hands of the junta. Contact information for your individual representative can be found easily by accessing the House Website (www.house.gov/writerep) and following the directions there. This will allow you to look up your representative's contact information and send him or her the message you want heard.

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

You can help! Take action today!



Visit the U.S. Campaign for Burma at: uscampaignforburma.org .

Visit the Burma Campaign U.K. at: www.burmacampaign.org.uk

You can help! Learn More & Donate Today.

As a member of the US Campaign for Burma, The Hunger Site strongly advocates grassroots changes to promote freedom, democracy, and human rights in Burma. We believe that basic needs must be met before a populace can create lasting change, and are proud to provide funds to improving healthcare in this troubled region, which suffers some of the worst health conditions in the world.

Mae Tao Clinic, founded by Dr. Cynthia Maung in 1988 to serve the flood of displaced Burmese people surging across the border into Thailand, has served tens of thousands of Burmese refugees living in the border region of Mae Sot, Thailand. Dr. Cynthia Maung has often been described as "Burma's Mother Teresa," and has received several international awards for her humanitarian work.

In November 2007, the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy named Dr. Cynthia Maung as the winner of the 2007 Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award. The purpose of the Award is to support democratic development and promote human rights throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Dr. Cynthia was selected for her tenacious and long-term commitment to the thousands of Burmese refugees and migrant workers who seek refuge from oppression and violence by the Burmese military junta that governs the country; and for her dedication to training and educating those refugees in order to build a community based on respect for life and human rights.

Dr. Cynthia's clinic provides not only medical care for her patients, but also job training, social services, health education, child protection services, and community-building activities.

Our Gifts That Give More^TM help Mae Tao Clinic and others improve the health and save the lives of marginalized, rural Burmese villagers, strengthening the grassroots of the nation for the ongoing clash with tyranny imposed from above.