Send a Message to the UN Secretary General about Burma

by Danny Fisher

In Burma one year ago today. Via Rule of Lords.
This from the U.S. Campaign for Burma:

    Please add your name to this petition to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. During this anniversary of the Saffron Revolution, we are not only commemorating the courageous actions of the monks, but continuing their struggle by pushing for the immediate release of all Burmese political prisoners and the creation of a global weapons embargo on Burma’s military regime:

      Dear Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

      September 26th is the one year anniversary of Burma’s military regime’s brutal crackdown against Buddhist monk lead peaceful demonstrations, known as the “Saffron Revolution.” During this time, we urge you to publicly call for the release of all political prisoners in Burma. We ask you to set a deadline of December 2008 for these releases — which will coincide with your trip to Burma.

      For too long, Burma’s military regime has used prisoners of conscience as political pawns — releasing a few before trips by UN envoys, only to arrest more after the UN leaves from Burma.

      Even though the UN Security Council, General Assembly, and Human Rights Council have called on Burma’s regime to release all political prisoners, the regime has nearly doubled the number of prisoners in the last year alone. Prisoners include courageous Buddhist monks who participated it the Saffron Revolution, student leaders, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi.

      This December presents an opportunity for you to obtain fulfillment of the UN’s demands — the release of every single political prisoner in Burma. We urge you to not fall into the military regime’s political trap by accepting the token release of a few prisoners as “progress” while many more are locked up.

      Lastly, we urge you to publicly offer your support for a global arms embargo on Burma. We hope the Secretary General will stand firm against the sale of weapons to a military regime that only uses guns against its own people.

Send your message by following this link.