some thursday drop-offs

It’s been a while since I shared some link love. Let me remedy that:

• Cass Sunstein reviews Jeremy Adelman’s new book, Worldly Philosopher: The Odyssey of Albert O. Hirschman.
• Jim Gordon shares some good words from Nicholas Lash about teaching and learning.
• Travis McMaken is trying to get people to read Sallie McFague’s Metaphorical Theology. Good luck mate!
• Steve Holmes shares a deeply moving post on one of Britain’s most able and likable twentieth century theologians – Colin Gunton.
• Robert Fisk reflects on some implications of Israel’s intervention in the Syrian war.
• Christopher Brittain on ‘the real story of growth and decline in liberal and conservative churches’.
• The talks from Wheaton’s conference on Christian Political Witness are now up.
• Celebrating Kierkegaard with George Pattison.
• Patrick Stokes, Hubert Dreyfus and Tim Rayner talk Kierkegaard.
• Matthew Wilcoxen reviews Suzanne McDonald’s latest book, Re-Imaging Election: Divine Election as Representing God to Others and Others to God.
• Reading about the ‘Pacific garbage patch’ made me very sad.
• Mark Farmaner asks, Is Aung San Suu Kyi the real enemy?
• 101 Unuseless Japanese Inventions is the funniest book I’ve read in ages.
• Jim Davila and Mark Goodacre reflect on the work of Geza Vermes, 1924-2013.
• Some time well spent.
• I’ve been listening to some great sounds this week: Steve Earle’s latest, The Low Highway, and Hello Cruel World by Gretchen Peters. Peters’ latest DVD Woman On The Wheel came out this week. I look forward to seeing it soon.
• Finally, tomorrow is Uncle Karl’s birthday. How are you planning to mark it?

Some vodcast shout outs

Time away typically allows me the chance to catch up on some of my favourite podcasts and vodcasts, and to clear some room in my iTunes library. Two of my favourite vodcasts are Insight and 101 East. I just wanted to give a wee shout out about some interesting recent episodes from both. From Insight:

• Privacy
• Narcissism
• Hacktivism
• Eating Meat
• Talking Suicide

and from 101 East:

• ‘True believers’ – on the church in China
• ‘The world’s longest ongoing war’ – on the Karen’s ongoing battle for self-rule in Burma
• ‘Australia’s boomtown curse’ – on the cost of Australia’s mining boom
• ‘The Lady on the Lake’ – on the future role of Aung San Suu Kyi, the artist Zayer Thaw and Burmese ex-pats living in Thailand

Aung San Suu Kyi: the 2011 Reith Lectures

This year’s Reith Lectures address the theme ‘Securing Freedom’. The five lectures are being given by the Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and former Director-General of MI5, Baroness Manningham-Buller. Aung San Suu Kyi’s lectures focus on the struggle for democracy inside an authoritarian regime, and Eliza Manningham-Buller’s will consider how, once secured, a country maintains its freedom.

The first two of these lectures are now available, and are unsurprisingly inspiring:

• 1. Aung San Suu Kyi, ‘Liberty’, 28 June 2011
• 2. Aung San Suu Kyi, ‘Dissent’, 5 July 2011

 

Aung San Suu Kyi Interview(s)

The Canadian Radio station, CBC, also has an interview with Aung San Suu Kyi here.

Here and there …

• Michael Jinkins on ministers and trust.
• Amnesty International’s interview with Aung Khaing Min.
• Stanley Hauerwas asks, ‘Just how realistic is just war?’
• Mark Van Steenwyk and Jarrod McKenna interview Stanley Hauerwas.
• Jamie Smith talks about ‘the good life’.
• Bruce Hamill shares a tale of two liturgies.
• Paul Fromont shares a reflection from Monica Furlong on the role of the priest.
• Most importantly, Samuel is doing well.

 

Saturday Link Love

• Ashgate announces some new titles: Christ and the Other: In Dialogue with Hick and Newbigin by Graham Adams; Four Philosophical Anglicans: W.G. De Burgh, W.R. Matthews, O.C. Quick, H.A. Hodges by Alan Sell; Ethics with Barth: God, Metaphysics and Morals by Matthew Rose; Philip Melanchthon, Speaker of the Reformation by Timothy J. Wengert.
• Think ‘Progressive Church’.
• Ben Myers on Tomáš Halík, atheism and patience.
• Parker Palmer on writing and faith.
• Church rules on funeral rites and wrongs.
• Halden Doerge jumps back into the blogging pond with some thoughts on the postliberal theological project.
• Mike Crowl shares a nice quote from Nouwen on spiritual direction.
• Jim Gordon on welcoming Benedict XVI to Scotland, and a joyful reflection on Benedict XVI in Bellahouston Park.
• Trevor Cairney reports on Jeremy Begbie’s 2010 New College Lectures on ‘Music, Modernity and God’. For those, like me, who couldn’t be there but wanted to, there’s MP3s to come!
• Marilynne Robinson takes on bad science writers.
• Rowland Croucher shares some questions about sex that he’s been asked as a counsellor.
• Countdown to Freedom for Aung San Suu Kyi. Also, Thakin Ohn Myint, Aung San Suu Kyi’s mentor, has died.
• Myanmar’s Election Commission cancels polls in ethnic areas because they know military government proxy parties cannot win.
• Questioning Myanmar’s Electoral Commission’s definition of ‘Free and Fair’.
• Rick Floyd on When Blogs Die.

Around: ‘Love seeketh not itself to please’

• Stanley Hauerwas and the university
• Richard Hays on the word of reconciliation
• Byron Smith shares a great quote from Karl Rahner on ‘Christian pessimism’
• John Pilger on ‘Julia Gillard, the new warlord of Oz’
• Walter Kasper on the regret of no shared communion
• Elliott Prasse-Freeman on Retaking power in Burma (Part I)
• Carol Howard Merritt on What Causes Pastors to Burnout?
• J.R. Daniel Kirk shares a parents prayer
• Kim Fabricius shares a wonderful sermon on baptism
• Sung-Sup Kim reviews David Gibson’s Reading the Decree: Exegesis, Election and Christology in Calvin and Barth
• Ben Myers is completely uninterested in ‘being a real man’
• ‘Speaking Christian: A Commencement Address for Eastern Mennonite Seminary’ by Stanley Hauerwas
• Finally, here’s some William Blake that I’m enjoying today:

‘The Clod and the Pebble’

‘Love seeketh not itself to please,
Nor for itself hath any care,
But for another gives its ease,
And builds a heaven in hell’s despair.’

So sung a little clod of clay,
Trodden with the cattle’s feet,
But a pebble of the brook
Warbled out these metres meet:

‘Love seeketh only Self to please,
To bind another to its delight,
Joys in another’s loss of ease,
And builds a hell in heaven’s despite.’

Praying with Camus

Tonight I watched Breaking the Silence: Burma’s Resistance by Canadian filmmakers Pierre Mignault and Hélène Magny. It documents the continuing resistance to Burma’s military junta by political and humanitarian activists.

And when I got home, Camus led me in prayer:

‘Hope had returned and with it a new zest for life. No man can live on the stretch all the time, with his energy and willpower strained to the breaking-point, and it is a joy to be able to relax at last and loosen nerves and muscles that were braced for the struggle’. – Albert Camus, The Plague (Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1967), 229.

Patterns of Abuse: Photographs of rural life in a militarized Karen State

I have sometimes used this blog to draw attention to the humanitarian abuses facing Karen and Burmese people, two people groups most dear to me. And a few weeks ago, I mentioned that the Karen Human Rights Group (whose important work focuses on the human rights situation of villagers in rural Burma) has produced a 98-page photo-annotated album called Patterns of Abuse: Photographs of rural life in a militarized Karen State. This nicely-produced book contains 125 images taken over a 17-year period and depicts life in rural Karen State. My copy of the book arrived in our mailbox yesterday, and it powerfully documents the most tragic of human rights abuses against a most resilient people living under – and resisting – one of the most oppressive and evil regimes in history. A well-written introduction presents an accurate survey of the historical and political context that the Karen face, and subsequent sections illustrate and describe village life in Karen State, life in State Peace and Development Council-Controlled areas, life in non State Peace and Development Council-Controlled areas, as well as sections on soldiers and various portraits.

That neighbouring-Thailand’s welcome increasingly seems to be running dry only adds to the deep sense of anxiety that the 133,000+ Karen refugees experience, an anxiety further fed by the increasing sense of donor fatigue over a prolonged refugee crisis.

Please consider purchasing a copy. All proceeds support the work of KHRG.

Myanmar’s empty promise to free Aung San Suu Kyi

There’s been a lot of hype in recent days about the announcement that Aung San Suu Kyi is ‘to be freed in November’. But Mark Farmener, from Burma Campaign UK, wisely cautions that celebrations arising from this news are premature and we have in fact every reason to belive that the junta’s words are ‘hollow and that the 64 year-old Nobel Laureate will remain in detention’:

‘They [Myanmar's government] know this will get the media interested. They know this this will get lots of positive publicity and that will give the excuse to governments like Germany and Spain and others that have been wanting to relax the pressure on Burma’s generals’.

‘The regime has made it really clear in their actions that they are not interested in releasing Aung San Suu Kyi. They have doubled the number of political prisoners since the monks’ uprising in 2007. While they’re very good at this kind of spin, the reality on the ground is very different … We need to look at what’s actually going on not the constant lies of the generals’.

This interview (00:05:24) with Farmener on Radio Netherlands Worldwide is well worth listening to.

Weekly wanderings

Lindis Pass

• Davey Henreckson on Charles Taylor and on Calvinists and disenchantment.
• Beth Doherty on Haiti and the best and worst of Christianity.
• Bruce Simpson asks (hopefully) whether the whole Google and China thing might be the thin end of the wedge.
• Thomas Bartlett on why ‘Google needs to realise that China is simply being China’.
• American VI: Aint No Grave by Johnny Cash – it’s a coming soon!!!
• Michael Wood reviews Avatar.
• Jessa Crispin, the editor and founder of Bookslut, on ‘the predictable American response to translated literature’.
• Mike Bird on ‘What is happening to Intervarsity?’
• Andrew Errington posts 10 reasons on ‘why I believe in infant baptism’.
• Robert Fisk on the never-ending exodus of Christians from the Middle East.
• C. Baxter Kruger on why Paul Young (author of The Shack) and Athanasius are singing from the same song sheet.
• The Karen Human Rights Group has produced a 98-page photo album containing 125 images of life in rural Karen State. The book is called Patterns of Abuse: Photographs of rural life in a militarized Karen State. It’s a fundraiser for a very worthwhile group, so please join me in buying a copy – or more – if you can.

The Poetry of Care and Loss

Doing the rounds this week:

• Ellen Davis presented her inaugural lecture as the Amos Ragan Kearns Distinguished Professor of Bible and Practical Theology on October 27, 2009, at Duke Divinity School. The title of the lecture was ‘The Poetry of Care and Loss’. It is available via iTunes.
• The Thailand Burma Border Consortium compares Eastern Burma to Darfur.
• Julian Bell reviews Vincent van Gogh – The Letters (now we just need Thames & Hudson to review the price!).
• A fascinating interview with Slavoj Žižek: ‘… it’s very easy to have a radical position which costs you nothing and for the price of nothing it gives you some kind of moral superiority. It also enables them to avoid the truly difficult questions’.
• Andrew Brower Latz continues his note sharing on Alan Torrance’s 2009 Didsbury Lectures (Parts I, II and III).
• Jim Gordon reminds us why reading Bonhoeffer is ‘like engaging in a theological detox programme’.
• Kyle Strobel writes about Evangelical Idolatry.
• Rick Floyd posts on Lesslie Newbigin’s The Gospel in a Pluralist Society.
• W. Travis McMaken, on his way into his final qualifying exam in systematic theology, shares a quote from TF Torrance on modern preaching and the god named ‘existentialist decision’.

News from a Tyrannised Nation: a Karen Update

Three items just in from the Karen Human Rights Group:

Over 700 villagers flee to Thailand amidst fears of SPDC/DKBA attacks on a KNLA camp and an IDP camp in Pa’an District

Villagers in Pa’an District, Karen State, have begun fleeing to Thailand to avoid violence and forced recruitment as porters in possible a joint SPDC/DKBA attack on a KNLA camp in Dta Greh Township, located next to a now populous IDP camp along the Moei River, bordering Thailand. This news bulletin describes the events of the past four days in which SPDC and DKBA forces have advanced towards the KNLA camp and begun what appears to be preparation for an attack. SPDC soldiers have begun patrolling and have set up an 81 mm mortar not far from the site and displaced villagers living in the area have become increasingly concerned about their safety.

 

 Don’t neglect rural Burma in calling for Suu Kyi’s release

Following the arrest of the American John Yettaw on May 5th 2009, Burma’s pro-democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was charged with violating the terms of her house arrest, moved to Insein Prison and put on trial. The international community has responded to these events with a flurry of attention on Burma not seen since Cyclone Nargis last year. Heads of State, activists and newspaper editors have renewed calls for her immediate release. At the same time, Burma Army operations in Karen State and other rural ethnic areas along with their associated human rights abuses remain ongoing and widespread. Yet once again the situation of abuse in rural Burma has been marginalised in favour of the more high profile political drama in the country’s urban settings. In calling, quite rightly, for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the international community must neither neglect the situation of abuse in rural Burma nor miss current opportunities to support those who face this abuse.

 

 Whatever happened to the 2007 protesters?: Interviews with convict porters

This report presents January 2009 interviews with two former SPDC convict porters. Both men are originally from Arakan State, Western Burma, and participated in the 2007 demonstrations against the rising cost of living. These demonstrations culminated in September 2007 with the large-scale monk-led protests and subsequent military crackdown. Both men were arrested by SPDC authorities for their activities, forced to serve as porters for the Burma Army in Karen State and eventually escaped captivity. Their testimonies cover issues such as SPDC-sponsored murder of convict porters, corruption within Burma’s judiciary and systematic SPDC abuses perpetrated against prisoners. The interviews also give insight into the possible fates of other Burmese citizens who have tried to voice dissent in Burma’s authoritarian environment, whether as part of the September 2007 protests or otherwise.

News from Burma

Al-Jazeera television recently aired the following Burma Campaign UK report on the plight of Karen refugees on the Burma-Thai border:

On a related matter, Glasgow City Council recently awarded Aung San Suu Kyi with a Freedom Of The City in absentia. Their media release reads:

‘Burmese pro-democracy campaigner Dr Aung San Suu Kyi will be given the Freedom of the City of Glasgow in absentia, at the City Chambers at noon on Wednesday, March 4.

A representative of the iconic politician, Dr Thuang Htun, will accept the award on her behalf.  Dr Suu Kyi remains under house arrest imposed by Burma’s military regime.

Dr Htun is a representative for United Nations Affairs for the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma. He also represents the democracy movement at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

In advance of accepting the award on Dr Suu Kyi’s behalf, Dr Htun commented on the irony of the situation. He said: “The fact that Dr Aung San Suu Kyi should be given the freedom of a city far from her home, at a time that she is denied even basic freedoms in her own country is a sharp reminder of the reality of today’s Burma.”

Lord Provost Bob Winter will present the honour to Dr Htun who will also be presented with a silver plate and a crested scroll. He will then be guest of honour at a special lunch.

The Lord Provost said: “It is with profound respect and admiration for Dr Aung San Suu Kyi’s unflinching bravery that the Council has conferred upon her the Freedom of the City of Glasgow. This is tempered with frustration that she cannot be here today, in person.

“However, I am delighted that her loyal representative Dr Htun has been able to visit our city to accept the award in her absence. He goes with our very best wishes for Dr Suu Kyi, a shining beacon of hope in her country.”

The Freedom of the City Award was originally proposed by Amnesty International and Glasgow Women’s Library.

John Watson, Amnesty’s International’s Scottish Programme Director, said:
“Aung San Suu Kyi is an inspiration to the people of Burma and to those around the world who applaud bravery and dignity in the face of oppression. Amnesty International congratulates Glasgow City Council on its decision to present her with its highest award”

Dr Adele Patrick of Glasgow Women’s Library said: “As part of Glasgow Women’s Library’s ongoing efforts to celebrate, uncover, and promote women’s cultural and political achievements locally and globally we warmly congratulate Glasgow City Council’s decision to offer Dr Aung San Suu Kyi the Freedom of the City.

“We acknowledge how this award raises the profile of the life and work of this remarkable woman and, by extension the people of Burma. We look forward to more pioneering women being added to this roll of honour.”

Dr Suu Kyi is the daughter of Aung San, wartime leader of Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL, assassinated 1947). She has endured prolonged periods of detention and imprisonment over the past 20 years by Burma’s oppressive regime.

She founded the National League for Democracy (NLD) in 1988 and was swiftly put under house arrest with the offer of freedom if she left Burma.

In 1990 the NLD won the general election decisively and once again Dr Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest. The election result was nullified by a military junta. This was also the year she was awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Accepting the prize Dr Suu Kyi said: “It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it. “

The following year she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and donated the $1.3 million prize money to establish a health and education trust for the people of Burma’.

I recall the closing words from an album that is very fastly growing on me: ‘Choose your enemies carefully ‘cos they will define you/Make them interesting ‘cos in some ways they will mind you/They’re not there in the beginning but when the story ends/Gonna last with you longer than your friends’.

Political prisoners set free in Myanmar

‘Twenty-four political prisoners were set free in Myanmar on Saturday after the government announced that it would release 6,313 prisoners.

One of those released is prisoner of conscience Ma Khin Khin Leh, who has been the subject of Amnesty International campaigns since her arrest in July 1999. The authorities detained her because they could not find her husband, Kyaw Wunna, who was connected to a pro-democracy march expected to take place that month.

Of the other released political prisoners, there were nine Buddhist monks and one nun.  Some were members of Myanmar’s opposition party, the National League for Democracy. These included Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, a MP-elect who had been in prison since 1990.

Another man, Zaw Naing Htwe, was released from a labour camp. Zaw Naing Htwe was sentenced to nine years in prison in December 2008 because he had received a letter from his elder brother, who was one of the imprisoned 88 Generation Students group leaders.

“There are still more than 2,100 political prisoners behind bars in Myanmar. Many of them are in poor health, partly as a result of harsh prison conditions,” said Donna Guest, Asia Pacific Deputy Director.

“While the release of these prisoners is welcome, the Myanmar government must release all other prisoners of conscience immediately and unconditionally.”‘

Source: Amnesty International

DKBA soldiers attack Karen village in Thailand

 

Download report as PDF [ 455 kb]

After disputes over arbitrary taxation payments and accusations of favouring the KNLA, 40 to 50 soldiers of DKBA Battalion #907 – under brigade commander N’Kaw Mway – attacked the village of Mae Gklaw Kee in Thailand’s Umphang District. Troops shelled the village tract leader’s house, shot at villagers’ houses and then burnt down villagers’ crop storage barns. The Batallion subsequently set up a camp in nearby Gklaw Ghaw village. As SPDC and DKBA troops work together in an effort to take control of the area, villagers face increased restrictions, overlapping taxation demands, and the threat of future attacks and land confiscation.

On Saturday, October 4th 2008, Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) officer Bla Nah, under the command of brigade commander N’Kaw Mway, led 40-50 soldiers of Battalion #907 in an attack on Mae Gklaw Kee village in Umphang District of Thailand (only three kilometres from the Burma border). After shelling the village tract leader’s house with a grenade launcher, soldiers shot at the villagers’ houses, shot out truck tyres and then burnt the villagers’ crop stores. After the attack, the soldiers set up camp in nearby Gklaw Ghaw village on the other side of the Burma border in Kawkareik township of Dooplaya District and are now working with nearby Light Infantry Battalions #401 and #407 of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)[1] to place movement restrictions on the villagers.

According to information collected by a KHRG researcher, a combination of factors seem to have led to this attack, with one of the major reasons being a refusal by the villagers (or inability) to pay the full amount of taxes demanded by the DKBA. As Mae Gklaw Kee village is located so close to the border, the villagers regularly travel back into Burma to work in their rented corn fields in the area around Bplah Doh village, close to Gklaw Ghaw village, in Maw Kee village tract of Kawkareik township. The area around Gklaw Ghaw and Bplah Doh villages is largely controlled by Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Battalion #201, but SPDC and DKBA soldiers also operate in the area. Other villages in Maw Kee village tract closer to the DKBA base at Gaw Lay village are largely controlled by the DKBA. Villagers are therefore faced with competing tax demands as the different military groups vie for control of the area.

Corn fields farmed by local villagers have been particularly subject to these overlapping taxation demands. Each local corn field usually produces from 3,000 to 6,000 big tins[2] of sweet corn per year and sometimes up to 10,000 big tins. Each year, KNLA soldiers demand 10 Thai baht (US $0.29) for each sack of corn – one sack of corn cobs contains approximately seven big tins of corn – from local farmers (including Mae Gklaw Kee village) or an estimated 4,286 to 8,571 Thai baht (US $123.86 to $248.06) for a field with a normal yield. However, in 2007 the DKBA also placed a much higher tax demand on the corn produced by the villagers – demanding eight Thai baht (US $0.23) for each big tin of sweet corn and 100 baht (US $2.89) for each big tin of sweet corn seed. For a normal yield, this is equivalent to 24,000 to 48,000 Thai baht (US $694.40 to $1,388.80) per field (not including the tax on corn seed). Struggling to meet the demands of both armed groups, villagers from Mae Gklaw Kee village told DKBA soldiers that they could only afford to pay them three baht per tin, as opposed to the eight baht demanded. In response, the DKBA soldiers simply increased the tax demand for 2008, asking for 15 baht for each big tin of corn, approximately 45,000 to 90,000 baht (US $1,302.07 to $2,604.13) for a normal yield field and 150 baht for each big tin of seed. The villagers knew they would be unable to pay this amount following the harvest (which usually starts in October) and, the village tract leader reportedly referred to DKBA soldiers as ‘dogs’ for placing such demands upon the villagers. This apparently angered commander N’Kaw Mway and prompted him to call for the attack upon Mae Gklaw Kee village. At this time, the villagers had not paid any tax to the DKBA for 2008, as the harvest was not yet completed. A KHRG field researcher also noted the villagers’ support of the KNLA as another reason for the attack and the Bangkok Post referred to a ‘brawl’ between DKBA soldiers and local teenagers from the village in September as another motive for the attack.[3]

Since the attack on Mae Gklaw Kee village, SPDC and DKBA soldiers have been restricting the movements of villagers in the area around Gklaw Ghaw village in an effort to take control of the area away from the KNLA. In the past, KNLA soldiers have ambushed and attacked DKBA and SPDC soldiers operating in the area. However, although KNLA soldiers remain in the area, they have not yet attacked the new DKBA camp at Gklaw Ghaw. KNLA soldiers claim that they are currently hesitant to attack the camp at Gklaw Ghaw for fear of creating more problems for the villagers, after a recent spate of retaliatory actions by SPDC and DKBA soldiers against villagers for such KNLA attacks – such as the burning down of corn storage barns in the area.

Villagers in the surrounding area therefore face increased restrictions imposed by the SPDC and DKBA soldiers based at Gklaw Ghaw, as soldiers try to clamp down on any possible communication between villagers and the KNLA. In Gklaw Ghaw village itself, civilians have been forbidden to travel outside of the village, even for work or trade, and have also had their mobile phones confiscated.[4] Villagers in Mae Gklaw Kee have currently been able to remain in their village with increased security from Thai authorities, but still live with the threat of further attacks and the future of their corn field farming remains uncertain, given the increased troop build-up by SPDC and DKBA forces in the area.

DKBA soldiers have had a record of imposing arbitrary taxation demands upon villagers, with other villages in the area having faced similar problems to Mae Gklaw Kee. In another incident in 2007, DKBA soldiers succeeded in extorting more than the original eight baht per big tin of corn demanded, by pretending that they were also collecting tax for the KNLA. In this way, villagers from Gaw Lay, Htee Ther Lay and Oo Poe Hta villages (all also located in the large Maw Kee village tract in Kawkareik township) were forced to pay ten baht per tin of corn. Villagers have also been threatened with land confiscation for KNLA use of landmines. On October 6th 2008, DKBA Battalion #907 officers Muang Shwe Wa, Kyaw Pa Pu and Bo Kyaw Kyaw summoned village heads from Ler Gaw, Lay Ghaw, Oo Poe Hta, Oo Gray Hta, Wa Mee Hta, Maw Ker Hta and Gaw Lay villages to meet with them at the DKBA army camp in Gaw Lay village, where brigade commander N’Kaw Mway is based. During the meeting, the DKBA officers reportedly told the village heads that if any DKBA soldier in the area should step on a landmine planted by the KNLA, they would take away all of the lands owned by the villagers.

With money to be gained from agriculture, logging, mining and taxes upon villagers, the DKBA and SPDC are keen to gain control of this border area. As the various armed groups vie for control of village tracts on both sides of the Thai-Burma border (in Dooplaya District on one side and Umphang District on the other), villagers face competing demands for taxation on their crops, increased restrictions on their movement and communication, and the increased threat of attacks and land confiscation by the SPDC and DKBA.

For more information on the situation in Dooplaya District and the human rights abuses involved in DKBA and SPDC control in other areas of Karen State, see the following previously published KHRG reports:

Footnotes

[1] The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) is the military junta currently ruling Burma.

[2] A ‘big tin’ is a local measurement of approximately 2 litres or 4.5 gallons in volume.

[3] ”Karen fighters attack village”, Bangkok Post, October 5th 2008, accessed athttp://www.bangkokpost.com/051008_News/05Oct2008_news12.php on October 9th 2008.

[4] Villagers were previously able to use Thai mobile networks to communicate with other villages in the area and in Thailand due to the proximity of the border, but are now unable to do so.

[Source: KHRG]

 

Aung San Suu Kyi Refuses to Accept Food

In a developing move, detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi refused to accept a food delivery to her home one week ago, according to the exiled National League for Democracy – Liberated Area. The exiled group released a statement on Monday saying that Suu Kyi has refused to accept food from members of her party for nine days.

Last week, Aung San Suu Kyi cancelled two scheduled meetings with United Nations Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari during his visit to Rangoon. Observers said that Suu Kyi’s refusal to meet with the UN envoy showed her disappointment with his failed attempts to broker a solution to the country’s decades-old political standoff.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years. During most of this time, her food has been supplied exclusively by her colleagues.

[Source: Scoop]

Burma is hosting 2092 Political Prisioners

On the late night and early morning of 21st-22nd August 2007, one year ago, after leading peaceful protests against the sudden hike in fuel and commodity prices, 13 leading members of the 88 Generation Student’s Group were arrested by the Burmese authorities. They are:

Min Ko Naing (Paw Oo Tun): now more than 17 years total detention, Jimmy (Kyaw Min Yu): total detention more than 15 years, Mya Aye: a total of more than 8 years in detention, Ko Ko Gyi: a total time in detention of 14 years and 8 months Kyaw Kyaw Htwe (Marky): nearly 13 years in detention Arnt Bwe Kyaw: over 9 years in detention Pyone Cho: total of over 16 years in detention, Min Zeya: total of 7 years and 5 months detention Nyan Lin: a total of 7 years detention Ko Zeya: over 13 years and 7 months in detention Panneik Tun: a total of 8 years detention Zaw Zaw Min: a total of 1 year and 1 month detention Thet Zaw: already served a total of 10 years and 4 months.

These arbitrary arrests are part of an ongoing systematic persecution of activists, both social and political, by the Burmese Junta. In the last year there have been around 900 arrests of activists, some for things like helping the relief operation following Cyclone Nargis. Currently there are at least 2092 Political Prisoners being held in detention across Burma.

Political Prisoners in detention suffer massive hardships, inflicted on them systematically by the authorities, including severe physical and psychological torture, many interrogations, starvation, malnutrition and many different and serious health problems due to the conditions they have been held under. They also suffer prolonged and unlawful detention, no access to proper legal counsel, no free or fair trials and a methodical intrusion into their lives by the Burmese authorities, and those of their families and associates, both during their detention and throughout the times that they have been released. Due to this treatment throughout their years in detention, all Political Prisoners develop weak health, and are susceptible to illness. For example: Hla Myo Naung (member of 88 Generation Students Group, held in Insein prison, arrested at eye clinic, now awaiting sentence) has already lost the sight in one of his eyes and his other eye will also soon be blind, due to the neglect of the authorities in not providing proper medical treatment.

The current situation of the above 13 student leaders, arrested this time last year is that they have not seen a lawyer since their detention, and some of the charges under which they were first arrested have been changed. Some of them and their family members are not sure under which charges they are being held. None of them have been brought before a court of any kind, or been subject to a trial. None of them have been sentenced. Some are suffering from severe health problems and have not yet received proper medical treatment. Among the most urgent cases are Ko Min Ko Naing, whose eyesight is failing, has some serious health complications with his heart and has pain walking due to a problem with his foot and Ko Mya Aye is suffering from heart disease.

Including the last year, the 13 student leaders listed above, have served a total time in detention of 140 years and 1 month so far. That is enough. AAPP pays tribute to these Activists for their service to their country, their total commitment, creativity and strength in the face of a brutal military regime. AAPP strongly condemns the Burmese regime, who acts with impunity, for their systematic persecution of these activists. They have suffered these abuses because of their outspoken belief in human rights, their love for their country and their determination to replace military dictatorship with democracy in Burma.

Source: Scoop

Burma: 20 years on

This Friday, 8 August, marks the 20th anniversary of Burma’s biggest ever democracy uprising when hundreds of thousands of people across Burma bravely marched through the streets demanding an end to military dictatorship. Soldiers fired on crowds of unarmed protesters, killing thousands. Today there remain over 2000 political prisoners in Burma, many subjected to brutal torture and denied medical care.

There are a number of events being organised around London for Friday to mark this anniversary and to continue the voice of protest:

Demonstration outside the Burmese Embassy
1-2pm Friday 8 August
19A, Charles Street,
London W1J 5DX
Nearest tube: Green Park

Monument to Political Prisoners
Opening ceremony to unveil a glass monument to political prisoners in Burma.
Time: 10.30am to 12:00
Venue: Peace Garden
Imperial War Museum
St George’s Road, London SE1 6ER
Nearest Tube: Elephant & Castle

Exhibition on Political Prisoners in Burma
Time: 18:00 to 22:00
Venue: Rooms G-50, 51, 52
School of Oriental and African Studies
University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG
Free entrance. Refreshments will be provided.
Nearest Tube: Russell Square

And on Saturday 9 August …

Bike Ride for Burma
To commemorate 8th August 1988, the Burmese community has organised a bike ride in London from Queen Anne’s Gate, St James’s Park to Speakers Corner, Hyde Park Corner.
Details: Meet at 1200 at Queen Anne’s Gate entrance of St James’s Park. Nearest tube: St James’s Park (District & Circle). The ride will conclude at Hyde Park Corner at 1400.

If you cannot take part in the bike ride, you’re welcome to come along for a picnic in Hyde Park, near Speakers Corner at 2pm. For more details of the route and other information, see
www.burmapoliticalforum.org

Chomsky: Resonant and Unwavering

Today’s Bangkok Post includes this fascinating interview with Noam Chomsky by  Stuart Alan Becker in which they discuss the Vietnam War, Burma, and the greatest dangers currently facing humanity:

BECKER: You opposed the Vietnam War long before it was fashionable. When and why did you make that decision? Do you feel you made a difference?

CHOMSKY: I opposed the Vietnam war from the mid-1940s, when the French invaded, a few years later receiving direct US support. But I did not do much beyond signing statements and the like until 1962, when the back pages of the New York Times casually reported that the US Air Force was flying a large proportion of the bombing missions against South Vietnam, with the planes disguised with SVN markings. At that point I realised that I had better learn more about this, began to look into it more carefully, and had to make a hard decision. I had enough experience with political activism to know that if I became involved, it would soon grow to be a major undertaking, with few limits, and I would have to give up a lot that meant a great deal to me. I decided to plunge in, not without reluctance. It took years of hard and painful work of protest and resistance before a real anti-war movement developed. There is no doubt that it made a difference. One illustration comes from the Pentagon Papers, the final section, dealing with the immediate reaction to the Tet revolt; in imperial terminology, it is called the “Tet offensive”, on the tacit assumption that a revolt against our military occupation is aggression. The government considered sending several hundred thousand more troops to South Vietnam, but decided not to because of concern that they would need the troops for civil disorder control at home in the likely event of a mass uprising of unprecedented proportions. We also know that by then 70 per cent of the US population felt that the war was “fundamentally wrong and immoral”, not “a mistake” – while intellectual elites debated whether Washington’s “bungling efforts to do good” were a “mistake” that was becoming too costly to us (Anthony Lewis of the New York Times, at the outer limits of dissidence within the mainstream).

How much any one individual contributed to the radical change of consciousness and understanding, and the willingness to do something about state crimes, it is hard to say.

BECKER: You have said the US played a significant role in actions that led to the installation of the Burmese junta back in 1962. What’s the subtext, the background we’re not understanding: What are the consequences of the enormous UK investment in Burma, of earlier US weapons sales, of recent Israeli weapons sales to the junta – and of Chevron Oil’s continued supply of millions and millions of dollars in oil money to the junta?

CHOMSKY: Burma had one of the few elected governments in the region in the 1950s, and was intent on pursuing a neutralist course. The Eisenhower administration was carrying out vigorous efforts to enlist the governments in the region into its Cold War crusades. As part of this broad campaign of subversion and violence, Washington installed thousands of heavily armed Chinese Nationalist troops in northern Burma to carry out cross-border operations into China. Burma vigorously objected, but in vain. The China forces began arming and supporting insurgent minorities in that turbulent region. In reaction, power within Burma began to shift to the military, leading finally to the 1962 coup. The matter is discussed by Audrey and George Kahin, Subversion as Foreign Policy. George Kahin was one of the leading Southeast Asian scholars, virtually the founder of the academic discipline in the US. The consequences of the US-UK-Israeli operations you describe are, of course, to strengthen the military junta. These matters are unreported and unknown in the US, apart from specialists and activists, because they interfere too dramatically with the doctrine that “we are good” and “they are evil”, the foundation of virtually every state propaganda system.

BECKER: Do you think there’s any chance of a popular uprising being successful in Burma, or do you think those who rise up will only be slaughtered because there’s no advantage for the generals to give up their power?

CHOMSKY: I do not know enough to be able to answer with any confidence, but I suspect that now it would be a slaughter. On the other hand, the military leaders are ageing, and there may be popular forces developing that can erode their power from within.

BECKER: Was the Kingdom of Thailand morally justified to host US military bases during the Vietnam War? What lasting effects did the Vietnam War have for Thailand and the region? Is that part of why Thailand is an island of relative easy life, compared to neighbours with more severe problems?

CHOMSKY: Thailand’s involvement in the US wars in Indochina was a disgrace. I presume Thais, at least some of them, made profit from their participation in the destruction of Indochina. I know that Japan and particularly South Korea gained very substantially. It helped spur their “economic miracles”. To evaluate the lasting effects we have to imagine what Southeast Asia would have been without the sadistic Western (mostly US) interventions of the postwar period – not to speak of what happened before. That’s a topic for a carefully researched book, not a brief discussion – and it would still be highly speculative, by necessity.

BECKER: Do you find George W. Bush and his wife Laura calling for change in Burma insincere? Do you think the US president’s action on behalf of the suffering and the marginalised in Burma in the wake of Cyclone Nargis would be more justifiable on moral grounds than the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan?

CHOMSKY: Bush likes to posture as a deeply religious Christian. Perhaps he has even looked at the Gospels. If so, he knows that the famous definition of the hypocrite in the Gospels could have been written with him in mind. One can think of all kinds of ways in which the Bush couple could show their sincerity, were it to exist.

If Saddam Hussein had given some money to hungry children it would have been more justifiable on moral grounds than his gassing of Kurds in Halabja. The same principles hold in the case of Negris vs Iraq-Afghanistan.

BECKER: What do you think China’s reaction would be if an internal uprising in Burma was successful?

CHOMSKY: China would likely tolerate, maybe even welcome, the overthrowing of the junta. There was, of course, a significant US role in actions that elicited the military coup that installed the still-ruling tyranny. But I don’t know how much that bears on the present situation either.

BECKER: Can you offer any insight into the behaviour of the Burmese generals, their motivations and how things are likely to work out for the people of Burma?

CHOMSKY: The rulers have a good thing going for themselves, nothing to gain by yielding power and no major risks in using it violently. So that’s what they’ll probably do, until the military erodes from within. Mass non-violent protest is predicated on the humanity of the oppressor. Quite often it doesn’t work. Sometimes it does, in unexpected ways. But judgements about that would have to be based on intimate knowledge of the society and its various strands.

BECKER: If a regime is so terrible that its generals loot the wealth of the country’s resources for their personal gain, carry out murders, political imprisonment and forced labour, is there a moral justification for an armed uprising of the suffering people?

CHOMSKY: There certainly is, in my view, with one qualification: An armed uprising would have to evaluate with care the likely consequences for the people who are suffering. I think it’s appropriate for people to rise up, but it’s not for me to tell people to risk mass murder. As for assassinating leaders, the question is very much like asking whether it is appropriate to kill murderers. They should be apprehended by non-violent means, if possible. If they pull a gun and start shooting, it’s legitimate to kill them in self-defence, if there is no lesser option.

BECKER: Would you give any examples of what could happen if the principle of universality were applied in the world today, between nations that are in conflict?

CHOMSKY: One example is that Bush, Cheney, Blair, and a host of others would be facing Nuremberg-style tribunals. And the observation generalises very broadly.

BECKER: What are the greatest dangers facing our human species in the world today and what can we most effectively do about them?

CHOMSKY: There are two dangers that could reach as far as survival of the species: Nuclear war and environmental disaster.

About nuclear war, we know exactly what to do. In fact, the World Court has ruled that it is a legal obligation of the signers of the non-proliferation treaty to live up to their obligation to eliminate all nuclear weapons. And the non-signers can be brought in as well. To give an example that is highly relevant right now, the US population is overwhelmingly in favour of establishing a nuclear-weapons-free zone (NWFZ) in the Middle East, including Iran and Israel. The US and the UK are formally committed to this policy. When they tried to construct a thin legal cover for their invasion of Iraq, they appealed to Security Council resolution 687, which calls upon Iraq to eliminate weapons of mass destruction. The US-UK invaders claimed that it had not done so. Resolution 687 also commits the signers to establish an NWFZ in the region. If the US were a functioning democracy, in which public opinion influenced policy, the exceedingly hazardous confrontation between the US and Iran could be mitigated, perhaps terminated.

Naturally, none of this can be reported or discussed, and it is inconceivable that any viable political candidate would even hint at the stand of the overwhelming majority of the population. One may recall a remark of Gandhi’s when he was asked what he thought of Western civilisation. His response was that it might be a good idea. The same is true of “democracy promotion”, which, if sincere, would begin at home.

How to stave off the threat of severe environmental catastrophe is less clear, though some measures are obvious: Conservation, research and development of renewable energy, measures to cut back emissions sharply, and others. What is eminently clear is that the longer we delay in addressing these problems, the more grave will be the consequences for future generations.

Burma’s Unjustified Detention Of Aung San Suu Kyi

Today, Condoleezza Rice, secretary of the US State Department, issued the following statement concerning Aung San Suu Kyi:

Tomorrow, on June 19, Aung San Suu Kyi will spend yet another birthday in custody, denied her liberty and fundamental political and civil rights by Burma’s military rulers. This deplorable situation must end.

Sadly, the regime not only continues to keep this distinguished Nobel laureate under house arrest, but there are nearly 2,000 other political prisoners currently in custody. Burma’s rulers should release all political prisoners and begin to move in earnest to transform Burma into a democratic society.

Meanwhile, the regime has backtracked on even the modest steps it had taken – naming a liaison to meet regularly with Aung San Suu Kyi and allowing her to meet with her colleagues in Burma’s National League for Democracy. There have been no meetings with either since January, and Aung San Suu Kyi has even been denied regular access to medical care and legal counsel.

Rather than risking further unrest in Burma by its unjustified detention of political prisoners and its holding of a rigged referendum in May on a sham constitution, the regime should release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and begin a genuine dialogue with her and other democratic and ethnic minority leaders on a transition to democracy.

UNHCR Condemns Systematic Rights Violations

The United Nations Human Rights Council today condemned “ongoing systematic violations of human rights” in Myanmar and called on the Government to stop making politically motivated arrests and to release all political prisoners immediately.

In a resolution adopted without a vote, the Council also called on the Government of Myanmar to fully implement commitments it made to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that it would grant relief workers “immediate, full and unhindered access” to people in need in the wake of last month’s catastrophic Cyclone Nargis.

It called on the Government to refrain from sending victims of the disaster back to areas where they would not have access to emergency relief, and to ensure that any returns are voluntary, safe and carried out with dignity.

The resolution, introduced before the Geneva-based Council by the European Union, also condemned the recruitment of child soldiers by both Government forces and non-State armed groups and urged “an absolute an immediate stop of this appalling activity.”

In addition, it called for an independent investigation into reports of human rights violations, including enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, acts of torture and forced labour, and called for those responsible for such crimes to be brought to justice.

The resolution also called on the Government “to engage in a real process of dialogue and national reconciliation with the full and genuine participation of representatives of all political parties and ethnic groups who have been excluded from the political process.”

Introducing the resolution on behalf of the EU, Slovenian representative Andrej Logar said previous resolutions had not been implemented by Myanmar and many political prisoners remained in detention.

The recent constitutional referendum was conducted in complete disregard of basic standards on such issues as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, he said.

Myanmar’s representative U Wunna Maung Lwin described the resolution as politically motivated and lopsided and said powerful States were trying to influence matters through political interference.

The representative said Myanmar was working with the international community in the response effort to Cyclone Nargis, which struck the country on 2-3 May, and was also making efforts on the political front, such as with the recent holding of the constitutional referendum.

Meanwhile, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon briefed the General Assembly today on his recent trip to Myanmar, saying that overall the relief effort there is continuing to improve and to be scaled up.

More than 134,000 people are dead or missing as a result of Cyclone Nargis and the subsequent tidal wave, and as many as 2.4 million people were affected and now need humanitarian assistance.

In his address to Assembly members, Mr. Ban stressed that the humanitarian tragedy wrought by the cyclone should not be politicized, and he plans to remain focused on the issue, drawing on the efforts of his Special Adviser, Ibrahim Gambari.

The Secretary-General also covered other issues in his remarks to the Assembly, including his latest travels, the most recent developments in the global food crisis and the situation in Zimbabwe.

Burma’s forced labour

The brutal Burmese government has for years forced citizens to work for free. Twenty per cent of those sentenced to prison with hard labour perish. Meanwhile, just who will rebuild the cyclone-hit country?

The Burmese military government has come under huge international pressure and criticism since cyclone Nargis destroyed large parts of Burma, killing at least 78,000 and leaving 56,000 more missing.

A month on, the UN estimates that 2.4 million people are in need of food, shelter or medical care, and more than a million have yet to receive foreign aid. Huge numbers of people are surviving in appalling conditions, with little or no help.

In the month since the disaster, only a small number of international aid workers have been granted access into the affected regions, and there is growing concern that the reconstruction effort will depend on forced labour – be it from children or migrant adult workers.

The International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) liason officer in Rangoon, Steve Marshall, said there had not been any verified reports of forced labour linked to the disaster. But he added: “We’re not saying it isn’t happening.”

Burma is well known for its use of forced labour. The Tatmadaw (Burmese military) routinely forces civilians to work on state infrastructure projects, such as the building of roads, bridges, military bases or even towns.

The military will typically demand labour from local villages, with the threat of fines if households are unable to supply the required amount of people. The ruling State Peace and Development Council’s (SPDC) search for labourers is made easier by the existence of registration documents with details of the exact number of inhabitants, property and livestock within any given village.

Inhabitants have no choice but to apply for national identity cards and register their details or risk fines or arrest.

The military is increasingly relying on SPDC-appointed village chairpersons as intermediaries through whom to disseminate their demands.

One particularly brutal example of forced labour is SPDC’s use of villagers as human minesweepers to clear the way for the safe passage of soldiers.

Projects vary in length and intensity, but they always mean that people are taken away from their land and livelihoods without any remuneration in return.

Military personnel operate under blanket impunity, and know that they will not be held accountable for any mistreatment of civilians. Furthermore, low level officers and soldiers in charge of forced labour projects are under pressure to meet demands, quotas and timetables ordered by their superiors.

Threats, harassment, beatings and even killings are not uncommon, and women risk rape and other sexual abuses. Forced labour often means that villagers are unable to work on their own agricultural work for days or even weeks on end. Regular forced labour in Mon State (South-eastern Burma), for example, has been a primary factor leading to increasing food insecurity.

Prison Labourers

Human rights organisations have reported the continuous use of forced prison labour in Burma, and it is estimated that as many as 20 percent of prisoners sentenced to ‘prison with hard labour’ die as a consequence of the conditions of their detention. It has been reported that at least 91 labour camps operate in areas across the country and the thousands of prisoners in these camps are used to build highways, dams, irrigation canals, and to work on special agricultural projects. Prisoners are reportedly being forced to work 12 hours a day without rest, and the sick and weak are not exempted from work. Inmates who cannot afford bribes are condemned to the harshest labour.

The living conditions and the general treatment of forced prison labourers are widely reported to be far worse than for civilian forced labourers. The work is more dangerous, they have to work even longer hours and health provisions are non-existent. The prisoners are viewed as expendable labour and there are countless reports of their torture, beatings and killings. A constant supply of prison labour is ensured by the continuing arbitrary arrests, as well as the imposition of lengthy sentences for minor misdemeanours. Those arrested often do not receive due legal process and are told that they will be released on payment of a bribe. Those who are unable to bribe the police or the judiciary are automatically sent to prison, whether there is evidence against them or not.

Forced conscription and child soldiers

Human rights groups, meanwhile, believe boys as young as 12 are recruited to fight against ethnic minority rebels. Human Rights Watch (HRW) estimated that there may be more than 70,000 child soldiers in the SPDC Army.

The children are often kidnapped without their parents’ knowledge while on their way home from school. They are then brutalised and physically abused during their induction and basic training before being shipped off to fight in the country’s ethnic states. “Child soldiers are sometimes forced to participate in human rights abuses, such as burning villages and using civilians for forced labour,” said HRW. “Those who attempt to escape or desert are beaten, forcibly re-recruited or imprisoned.”

Following the suppression in 1988 of the nationwide pro democracy demonstrations, the ruling military council initiated a dramatic effort to modernize and expand the armed forces. To tighten its control over its population, the SPDC Army instituted a dramatic expansion of military personnel throughout the country.

Service in the armed forces is for many a dangerous and gruelling experience, and soldiers are often subjected to mistreatment by senior officers. According to the junta’s military meeting minutes, there were about 9,000 desertions during 2006, whereas the army was only able to recruit 6,000. This trend continued in 2007, and the army is facing an acute shortage of trained personnel as a result.

Burma continues to have one of the highest numbers of child soldiers in the world – despite an official age of enlistment of 18.

According to Thein Sein, it is under-18s that are to blame for the problem because they lie about their true age or did not inform their parents that they had enlisted in the army.

Though, in a tacit admission that there remained underage soldiers in the armed forces, he further stated that soldiers with stunted growth were not sent to forward areas but were instead given light work duties at military bases, and that illiterate youth were sent to army schools to be educated.

With forced labour being such a common occurrence in the country, it is expected Burma will make use of it for the reconstruction process. Burma has a long history of ignoring the advice of International Organisations and actively hampering their freedom of movement and investment in the country, and is not about to change its stance.

Once again, the military junta will throw a spanner in the works and prevent ILO from monitoring the reconstruction process properly, adding further suffering to the devastated area and a population that has been through so much already.

[Source: New Statesman]

Video: Displaced children in northern Karen State

In December 2007, Burma Army soldiers operating under Military Operations Command (MOC) #4 conducted a series of attacks against villages in the Th’Ay Kee area of southeastern Toungoo District, northern Karen State. This Karen Human Rights Group video includes footage of the initial attack and the following days as children and their families from the Th’Ay Kee area continued to flee on foot in order to evade the Burma Army soldiers who were hunting them down.

[Source: KHRG]

A Dirty List

Burma Campaign UK has published its ‘Dirty List’ of companies that are helping to prop up the Burmese junta. The list is provided with a view to encouraging individuals/groups to write to companies calling upon them to stop funding the Burmese regime. For those who are sceptical that such action works, Burma Campaign UK have reported that since they launched the list 6 years ago, over 100 companies have withdrawn from Burma because of pressure so applied. Among the companies listed on the new list are BBC Worldwide, Jetstar Asia,  Lonely Planet, Mitsubishi, Qantas, Siemens and Toyota.

I try to keep up to speed on what’s happening in Burma, and usually post on Burma-related issues at Civicus.

A Dirty List

Burma Campaign UK has published its ‘Dirty List’ of companies that are helping to prop up the Burmese junta. The list is provided with a view to encouraging individuals/groups to write to companies calling upon them to stop funding the Burmese regime. For those who are sceptical that such action works, Burma Campaign UK have reported that since they launched the list 6 years ago, over 100 companies have withdrawn from Burma because of pressure so applied. Among the companies listed on the new list are BBC Worldwide, Jetstar Asia, Lonely Planet, Mitsubishi, Qantas, Siemens and Toyota.

A

Abercrombie & Kent
Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) is an American holiday company with 45 offices around the world, including offices in the UK. In 2003 the UK branch of A&K informed the Burma Campaign UK that A&K would no longer include Burma in its brochures or promote tourism to Burma. However today both the UK and US branches operate tours to Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese democracy movement have asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Geoffrey Kent
Chairman and CEO
Abercrombie & Kent, Inc.
1520 Kensington Road, Suite 212
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523-2156
USA

Alcatel
Alcatel is a French multinational specialising in communication technology. Alcatel is working closely with the regime in Burma to help it develop telecommunications such as landlines and mobile networks. The regime is the only mobile service provider in Burma, and is keen to expand the service because of high revenues and its importance to companies investing and trading with Burma, in particular, gem miners and exporters.

President
Alcatel HQ
54, rue La Boétie
75008 Paris
France
Email: caroline.mille@alcatel.com

Managing Director
Alcatel
7a The Long Room
CopperMill Lock
Canal Side
Harefield
UB9 6JA
UK

Andaman Club
The Andaman Club is a luxury casino/hotel complex located on Thahtay Kyun Island in Southernmost Burma. It was launched by Vikrom Isiri in 1995, who leases the land from the Burmese junta. Isiri has since gone on to become a Thai senator and the complex has provided the seed money for numerous other ventures, including Phuket Airlines.

Vikrom Isiri
Andaman Club
1168/71 25th- A Floor,
Lumpini Tower Building
Rama IV Road
Thungmahamek
Bangkok
Thailand 10210

Fax: + (662) 285 6408-9
Email: andamanclubmm@hotmail.com

Andaman Teak Supplies Pty Ltd
Andaman is an Australian teak supplier to the marine sector, which only uses Burmese teak. The Burmese regime owns all teak plantations in Burma and teak sales earn the regime millions of pounds every year.

Andaman Teak Supplies Pty Ltd
59 Magnesium Drive
Crestmead Qld 4132
Australia

Fax: +61 (0)7 3803 1118
Email: andamanteak@bigpond.com

Andrew Brock Travel
Andrew Brock Travel is a tour operator that organises tours to Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese democracy movement have asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities. Owner Andrew Brock has said that Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi is ‘oppressing Burma’s people’.

Andrew Brock
ANDREW BROCK Ltd.
29a Main Street,
Lyddington,
Oakham,
Rutland LE15 9LR
UK

Fax: 01572 821072
Email: ABROCK3650@aol.com

Aquatic
Aquatic is a privately owned Scottish company that provides specialist services to the oil and gas industry. Aquatic has an office in Burma, through which they assist the oil and gas industry. Gas exports are the regime’s largest source of income.

Managing Director
Aquatic
Palmerston Centre
29-31 Palmerston Road
Aberdeen AB11 5QP

Fax: 01224 577361
Email: admin@aquatic.co.uk

Archaeological Tours
Archaeological Tours is a US tour operator specialising in archaeological and historical study tours led by distinguished scholars. Their 2007-2008 programmes includes a ‘Khmer Kingdoms Tour’ which begins in Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese democracy movement have asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy.

Archaeological Tours
271 Madison Avenue
Suite 904
New York
10016
USA

Fax: + (212) 370-1561
Email: ArchTours@aol.com

Asia Optical
Asia Optical is a Taiwanese company and is one of the biggest lens producers in the world. It invested $12m in Burma to build a lens factory, which opened in early 2004. Customers of Asia Optical include: Canon, Epson, Hitachi, Kodak, Konica, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Sony, and Sharp.

Mr Robert Lai
Chairman
Asia Optical
No. 22-3 South 2nd Road
T.E.P.Z, Taichung 427
Taiwan R.O.C

Email: service@asia-optical.com.tw

Audley Travel
Audley Travel is a travel company that organises tours to Burma. It also promotes holidays to Burma in national newspapers, including the Sunday Telegraph, The Times, The Guardian and The Observer.

Craig Burkinshaw
Managing Director
Audley Travel Ltd
6 Willows Gate
Stratton Audley
Oxfordshire OX27 9AU
UK

Fax 01869 276 214
Email: mail@audleytravel.co

Asia World Company – NEW
Asia World Company is an Australian company that is involved with the Shweli River dam project. The project has been associated with numerous human rights abuses. Dam projects in Burma have been associated with forced relocations, extrajudicial killings, forced labour, death by labour and torture.

Level 2, 403 Pacific Highway
Artarmon,
Sydney
NSW 2064
Australia
Phone: +61 2 9906 6372
Fax: 61 2 9906 1874

Aban Offshore – NEW
Aban Offshore is an Indian Oil company which won a $25 million contract from the Thai company PTTEP International to help increase the revenues the regime gains from Burma’s oil and gas reserves. In 2007 the regime received $2.7 billion from the oil and gas sector.

Managing Director
Aban Offshore
Janpriya Crest
113, Pantheon Road
Egmore
Chennai 600 008
India

A.L.T Inter Corporation – NEW
A.L.T Inter Corporation is a Thai telecoms company, which has been undertaking contract work for the Burmese regime. A.L.T Inter operates in Burma through a joint venture company called Kordia Solutions Thailand with the New Zealand government owned Kordia. Their joint venture company has been working on a $80,000 contract with the regime owned Myanmar Post and Telecommunications on mobile phone towers in Burma. Mobile phone services are strictly controlled in Burma and it is extremely difficult for ordinary citizens to afford or acquire a mobile phone. However, for supporters of the regime it is relatively easy to acquire a phone through the pro-regime Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA). It is reported that the USDA members raise funds by selling mobile phones, which they acquire due to their close ties to the regime.

A.L.T Inter Corporation
52/1 M00 5
Bangkruay-Trinoi Road
Bangsithong
Bangkruay District
Nonthaburi 11130
Thailand

B

Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes is a supplier of products and services to the oil and natural gas industry. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company operates in over 90 countries, including Burma, where it has offices in rangoon. Its subsidiaries- Hughes Christensen and Baker Petrolite have further offices in South East Asia designated to serve the industry in Burma. As well as supplying equipment to the oil and gas industry in Burma, Baker Hughes operate a rig count service within the country. Baker Hughes has worked in joint venture with Singapore based MPRL E&P Pte. Ltd in Burma.

Baker Hughes
Corporate Headquarters
2929 Allen Parkway Ste
2100 Houston
TX 77210-5177
USA

Fax: + 713 439 8699
Email: info@bakerhughes.com

Bales Worldwide
Bales Worldwide is a travel company that organises tours to Burma. Although the company admits there are ‘conflicting views’ on whether tourists should visit Burma, it argues in favour of tourism. Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese democracy movement have asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy.

Managing Director
Bales Worldwide Holidays
Bales House
Junction Road
Dorking
Surrey RH4 3HL UK

Email: enquiries@balesworldwide.com

Bamboo Travel
Bamboo Travel is a UK company which aims to deliver bespoke itineraries for tourists wishing to visit China and South East Asia. Burma is included as one of the company’s destinations. Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese democracy movement have asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy.

Bamboo Travel Ltd
1E Elms Road
Clapham
London SW4 9ET

Email: info@bambootravel.co.uk

BBC Worldwide – NEW
On October 1st 2007 the BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, bought a 75% stake in Lonely Planet. Lonely Planet is an Australian multinational publishing company specialising in travel guides. Lonely Planet publishes a guide to Burma, which encourages tourists to visit the country. Lonely Planet vigorously defends tourism to Burma, attempting to undermine calls by Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma’s democracy movement for tourists to stay away. The BBC charter states that the activities of BBC Worldwide must not “jeopardise the reputation of the BBC or the value of the BBC brand”. BBC Worldwide maintains that Lonely Planet will continue to publish its Burma guidebook; even though the book fails to warn readers which hotels are regime owned or highlight which tourists facilities were built or prepared for tourism with forced labour (such as the “ huge gleaming” airport in Mandalay and Mrauk U in Rankaing State). The Burmese regime has identified tourism as a vital source of income.

John Smith
BBC Worldwide
Woodlands
80 Wood Lane
London W12 0TT
UK

Ben Line Agencies/ EGT Holdings
Ben Line Agencies is a Scottish shipping line with offices in Burma. It operates a range of port services for companies exporting cargo from Burma. Ben Line is owned by EGT Holdings.

William Thomson
Chairman
Ben Line Agencies
Suite 7, Bonnington Bond
2 Anderson Place
Edinburgh EH6 5NP

Fax: 0131 557 4742
Email: info@egtholdings.com

BJ Services
BJ Services is an American oil services company. It provides services to oil companies operating in Burma. The oil and gas sector are a major source of revenue for the Burmese regime.

J. W. Stewart
Chairman, President and CEO
BJ Services 5500 Northwest Central Drive
Houston Texas 77092
USA

Email: rcoons@bjservices.com

C

Chevron
Since its 2005 takeover of Unocal, US oil giant Chevron has been one of the joint venture partners developing the Yadana offshore gas field in Burma, which earns the military regime millions of dollars. Chevron also owns Texaco.

David J. O’Reilly
Chairman and CEO
Chevron
6001 Bollinger Canyon Rd.
San Ramon
CA 94583
USA

Email: comment@chevron.com

CHC Helicopter Corporation
CHC Helicopter Corporation, a Canadian company, is the world’s largest provider of helicopter services to the global offshore oil and gas industry. It has aircraft operating in more than thirty countries around the world including Burma where it has supported offshore operations of international oil companies operating in the country. CHC trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols FLY.A and FLY.B; and on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FLI.CHC.

CHC Helicopter Corporation
4740 Agar Drive
Richmond, BC
V7B 1A3
Canada

Email: communications@chc.ca

China Heavy Machinery Corporation – NEW
China Heavy Machinery Corporation is a Chinese company that is involved with the Yeywa dam project in Burma, which has been associated with numerous human rights abuses. Dam projects in Burma have been associated with forced relocations, extrajudicial killings, forced labour, death by labour and torture.

The Chief Exeuctive
China Heavy Machinery Corporation
RM 8-1-1603
Jingang Plaza
NO. 19 Xindawang Rd.
Chaoyang District
Beijing
China 100022

Email:xyang@chmbnet.com, cbc@chmbnet.com

China International Trust and Investment Company (CITIC Group) – NEW
The state-owned CITIC Group is China’s largest financial conglomerate, with over 40 subsidiaries worldwide, including in North America and Asia Pacific. Some of these have had substantial dealings with the Burmese military regime. One subsidiary, CITIC Technology has ongoing involvement in numerous projects within Burma, the majority of which are hydroelectric related, though it has also been involved in resource extraction. As recently as last October a delegation from CITIC Technology met publicly with members of the junta at a hotel in Nanning, China.

Chang Zhenming
Vice-President & Chairman, CITIC Group
Capital Mansion
6 Xinuan Nan Road
Beijing 10004
Peoples Republic of China
Tel: +86-10-6466-5534
Fax: +86-10-6466-1186
Web: http://www.citic.com

China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC)
CNOOC is China’s offshore and overseas oil company. It is involved in several gas fields in Burma. Most recently its involvement has been through its China Oilfield Services Ltd subsidiary. In 2006 it agreed a deal to provide drilling services at three onshore sites in Burma’s Arakan state, having previously secured a drilling contract from Daewoo to drill for gas offshore.

Chairman
CNOOC
Offshore Petroleum Plaza
NO.6, Dongzhimenwai Xiaojie
DongCheng District
Beijing
P.R. China 100027

Fax: 00 86-10-84521441
Email: xiaozw@cnooc.com.cn

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC)
CNPC is China’s largest oil and gas company. It has been involved in Burma’s oil and gas industry for more than a decade, increasing its investment in 2001 through its subsidiary – Chinnery Assets. In 2004 it entered into production sharing contracts with the Myanmar Ministry of Energy for offshore exploration of oil and gas through another of its subsidiaries- China Huanqiu Contracting and Engineering Corporation. CNPC’s largest subsidiary PetroChina signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Burmese junta in 2005 for the supply of natural gas from Burma to China.

Mr. Chen Geng
President
CNPC
6, Liupukang Jie
Xicheng Dist., Beijing
100724
China

Fax:00 86 10 6209 4806
Email:master@cnpc.com.cn

China Nonferrous Metal Mining Company (CNMC) – NEW
Owned by the Chinese State, China Nonferrous Metal Mining Company plans to invest US$600 million in a new nickel mine. Situated approximately 200 kilometres north of Mandalay, Tagaung Taung mine is a joint venture with the regime’s Number 3 Mining Enterprise, who will keep a 25% stake in the venture. Early estimates suggest that 85,000 tonnes of ferronickel and 22,000 tonnes of nickel per year could be produced, making it one of the largest in Burma. This will generate significant income for the Burmese regime.

6/F China NonFerrous BLD
25 Lianhuachi South Road
Beiljing
Beijing Municipality
China, 100055
Phone: +86 10 63420715
Fax: +86 10 63485616
Email: CNMC@nfcg.com.cn
Web: http://www.nfcg.com.cn/en

China PetroChemical Corp (Sinopec)
Sinopec is China’s second largest oil company, and is listed in Hong Kong and New York. Its subsidiary – Dian-Quin-Gui Petroleum Exploration Bureau – signed a contract for oil and gas exploration with the regime in September 2004.

Wang Tianpu
President
Sinopec
No.A6 Huixin East Street
Chaoyan District
Beijing 100029
China

China Power Investment Corporation – NEW
China Power investment Corporation is a Chinese company that is involved with the Irrawaddy Myitsone dam project in Burma, which has been associated with numerous human rights abuses. Dam projects in Burma have been associated with forced relocations, extrajudicial killings, forced labour, death by labour and torture.

The Chief Executive
China Power Investment Corporation
Building 3,
No.28 Financial Street
Xicheng District
Beijing,China

Tel:+86-10-66298000
Fax:+86-10-66298095

China Southern Power Grid – NEW
China Southern Power Grid is a Chinese company that is involved with the Irrawaddy Myitsone dam project in Burma, which has been associated with numerous human rights abuses. Dam projects in Burma have been associated with forced relocations, extrajudicial killings, forced labour, death by labour and torture.

The Chief Exeuctive
China Southern power Grid
6 Huasui Rd.
Guangzhou, 510623
China

Phone: 86-20-3812-1080
Changjiang Institute of Surveying, Planning, Design and research – NEW
China Southern Power Grid is a Chinese company that is involved with the Irrawaddy Myitsone dam project in Burma, which has been associated with numerous human rights abuses. Dam projects in Burma have been associated with forced relocations, extrajudicial killings, forced labour, death by labour and torture.

The Chief Executive
Changjiang institute of Surveying, planning, design and research
Wuhan 430010
China

CH. Karnchang Co – NEW
CH. Karnchang is a Thai engineering company, which is involved in the Salween Dam project. The US$ 6 billion project has led to over 300,000 people being forcibly relocated and the militarisation of the surrounding area which has resulted in an increase in reports of torture, extrajudicial killing and other human rights abuses. Over four fifths of the electricity from the project will be exported to Thailand.

Managing Director
CH. Karnchang Co
587 Viriyathavorn Building,
Sutthisarn Road,
Dindaeng Subdistrict,
Dindaeng District,
Bangkok,
Thailand.

Colenco Power Corporation – NEW
Colenco Power Corporation is a Swiss company that is involved with the Yeywa dam project in Burma which has been associated with numerous human rights abuses. Dam projects in Burma have been associated with forced relocations, extrajudicial killings, forced labour, death by labour and torture.

The Chief Executive
Colenco Power Engineering Ltd.
Hydropower Plants
Department Täfernstrasse
26 CH-5405
Baden
Switzerland
Tel: +41 56 483 1717
Fax: +41 56 483 1799

CNA Group Ltd
CNA is as Sesdaq listed company headquartered in Singapore. It was, in 2005, awarded a contract for the expansion of Yangon International Airport. Under the contract C.N.A. will design, supply, install and commission 24 engineering systems for the airport terminals. The project is to be completed by early 2007 but the CEO has commented “we will continue to expand our presence in the region (Myanmar).”

Ms. Amanda Shen
CNA Group Ltd (Singapore Headquarters)
28 Kaki Bukit Crescent
Kaki Bukit Techpark 1
Singapore 416259

Fax: + 65 68429606
Email: amandashen@can.com.sg

Crown Relocations
Crown Relocations is a Hong Kong based company with offices in the UK. It is employed by governments, corporations and non-government agencies to arrange relocation of staff when they need to work overseas. Crown has an office in Burma that facilitates the transfer of expat staff employed by foreign investors in Burma. Crown strongly defends foreign investment in Burma.

Managing Director
Crown Worldwide Ltd.
19 Stonefield Way
London
South Ruislip
Middlesex HA4 OBJ
UK

Fax: 020 8839 8155
Email: london@crownrelo.com

D

Danford Equities Corporation
Danford Equities Corporation is an Australian oil company owned by Twinza Oil. It signed a production sharing and exploration contract with state-owned Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise in November 2006. It covers the Yetagun East Block. Twinza Oil’s CEO, Bill Clough, boasts of the company’s “close relationship” with the regime. Gas exports are the regime’s largest source of income.

Managing Director
Twinza Oil
Head Office & Principal Registered Office
Level 6
251 St Georges Terrace
Perth
Western Australia 6000

Daewoo International Corporation
Daewoo is a South Korean conglomerate with interests ranging from oil and gas, to grain, televisions and cars. It is a partner in the Bay of Bengal gas exploration project in Burma which could earn the regime hundreds of millions of dollars. Daewoo Motors also has a car assembly plant which is a joint venture with Myanmar Automobile and Diesel Industries (MADI). MADI is owned and controlled by the regime. In addition, Daewoo supplies IT services to the regime, and has timber manufacturing and clothing interests in Burma.

Lee Tae-Yong
Chief Executive Officer
541 5-Ga Namdaemunno,
Chung Gu,
C.P.O Box 2810
Seoul
Korea

Fax: 00 8227539489

Managing Director
Daewoo Int’l London Branch Office
Missing Link House,
3 Eastbury Road,
Northwood
Middlesex HA6 3AB
UK

Fax: 00 441923 833 487
E-mail: iplee@daewoo.co.uk

DBS Group Holdings Ltd
DBS Group Holdings Ltd is the holding company of DBS bank and is one of the largest companies in terms of market capitalisation listed on the Singapore Exchange, with total assets amounting to over S$180 billion. Included in its international banking network is a representative office in Burma.

DBS Bank
6 Shenton Way
DBS Tower One
Singapore 068809

Diethelm Keller/STA Travel
Diethelm Keller Group is a private Swiss company with a wide range of investments, including Diethelm Travel, which operates holiday tours to Burma. Diethelm boasts that it pioneered tourism to Burma. Diethelm also owns STA travel. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Andreas W. Keller
Diethelm Keller Holding Ltd
Muhlebachstrasse 20
8032 Zurich
Switzerland

Fax 00 411 1 265 3399
Email: info@diethelmkeller.com

Dragon Travel
Dragon Travel is a travel company based in Wales that organises tours to Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese democracy movement have asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Managing Director
Dragon Tours & Travel Ltd.
13 Howells Crescent
Llandaff
Cardiff
CF5 2AJ
UK

Email: sales@dragontravel.co.uk

Dive the World – NEW
Based in Thailand, Dive the World facilitates diving holidays to Burma. Their promotional materials state, “You will be accompanied by an immigration official for the duration of your cruise … therefore, every cruise is supervised by the Burmese authorities and is extremely safe”. Aung San Suu Kyi and the democracy movement have asked for tourists not to visit Burma at the present time.

Sheldon Hey, General Manager
Dive the World
Ratuthid Road
Patong Beach
Phuket
83150 Thailand

Phone: +66 83 5057794
Fax: +66 76 344736
Email: Burma@Dive-The-World.com
Web: http://www.DiveTheWorldBurma.com

Dusit Thani Hotels – NEW
Based in Thailand, Dusit Thani Hotels took over the management of the luxury 211-room Inya Lake Hotel in Rangoon in 2002. It is regarded as the one of the most luxurious places to stay in Rangoon, Aung San Suu Kyi, and the country’s democracy movement asks tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

The Dusit Thani Building
946 Rama IV Road
Bangkok 10500
Thailand
Tel: +66 2200 9999
Fax: +66 2 636 3630

E

EGAT
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) Public Limited Company is a subsidiary of Thailand’s state run power utility, EGAT, formed to increase private sector involvement in electricity supply. EGAT Plc signed a Memorandum of Understanding in late 2005, with the Burmese military junta for the construction of a series of five hydro electric dams along the Salween river. The project will not only secure electricity for Thailand, but also much needed income for the SPDC.

Kraisi Kanasuta
EGAT Plc.
53 Moo 2 Charunsanitwong Road
Bangkruai
Nonthaburi 11130
Thailand

Email: Hydro_eng@egat.com

Elder Treks – NEW
Based in Toronto, Elder Treks is a tour organiser that specialises in ‘small group adventures for travellers 50 plus’. Describing Burma as a ‘sublime country’, it organises 18-day holidays to Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi and the democracy movement have repeatedly asked for tourists not to visit Burma, as it helps funds the regime and gives it legitimacy.

Gary Murtagh
President, Elder Treks
597 Markham Street
Toronto
Ontario M6G 2L7
Canada
Tel: +1 (0)808 234 1714
Web: www.eldertreks.com
Email: adventure@eldertreks.com

Essar Group
Essar Group is an Indian conglomerate. In 2005 its Essar Oil subsidiary signed contracts with the regime to make onshore and offshore explorations for oil and gas.

Shashi Ruia
Chairman
Essar Group
Essar House
11 Keshavrao Khadye Marg
Mahalaxmi
Mumbai – 400 034
India

Email: corporatecommunications@essar.com

F

First Choice Expeditions – NEW
First Choice Expeditions is an American company who, with its associated companies Country Walkers and Travcoa, have in the past or currently sell holidays to Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese democracy movement have asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Many of Burma’s tourists facilities were built with forced labour.

Managing Director
First Choice Expeditions
4340 Von Karman Ave.
Suite 400
Newport Beach
CA 92660
USA

Focus Energy
Focus Energy is a small British oil company – registered in the Virgin Islands. Focus Energy operates and develops onshore oil fields in Burma. It began operations in 1997, and in late 2004 announced a new investment of 4 million dollars to drill new wells.

Maurie Drew
General Manager
Focus Energy Ltd
Focus House
Mya Yeik Nyo Royal Estate
20 Pale Street
Bahan Tshp
Yangon
Burma

Fodor’s/Random House
Fodor’s is an American publishing company that specialises in travel guides. Their South East Asia guide includes a section on Burma which helps facilitate tourism to the country. Fodor’s is part of the Random House publishing group. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Managing Director
Random House, Inc.
1745 Broadway
New York,
NY 10019
USA

FOSCE – NEW
FOSCE is a German company that is involved with the Yeywa dam project in Burma, which has been associated with human rights abuses. Dam projects in Burma have been associated with forced relocations, extrajudicial killings, forced labour, death by labour and torture.

The Chief Executive
FOSCE Lorentzenstr.
30 Bad Oldesloe
23843 Germany

Fraser and Neave, Limited – NEW
Fraser and Neave is a Singaporean company that operates a brewery in Burma in joint venture with the state owned Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd, their joint venture is called Myanmar Brewey Limited (MBL). MBL produces brands such as Tiger Beer and Myanmar Beer; exporting to 10 countries including Malaysia, Singapore, India and China. The venture generates significant income for the Burmese regime.

Corporate Communications
Fraser and Neave, Limited
#21-00 Alexandra Point
438 Alexandra Road
Singapore 119958
G

Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL)
GAIL is an Indian gas company. It is a partner is the massive Shwe gas field consortium off the coast of Burma. It has a 10% stake.

The Chairman
GAIL (India) Limited
16,Bhikaiji Cama Place
New Delhi – 110 066
India

Gecko’s Adventures
Gecko’s describes itself as a travel company for ‘grassroots adventures’. It is a sister company of Peregrine Adventures, which has offices in Australia and the UK. Gecko’s organises tours to Burma.

Managing Director
Gecko’s Adventures
First Floor,
8 Clerewater Place,
Lower Way,
Thatcham,
Berkshire
RG19 3RF

Email: sales@peregrineadventures.com

Managing Director
Gecko’s Adventures
258 Lonsdale St
Melbourne VIC 3000
Australia

Email: websales@peregrine.net.au

Geopetrol
Geopetrol is a private oil and gas exploration, and production, company. Through GoldPetrol, the company’s joint venture with Interra Resources, this French based firm has a participating interest in two major oil producing fields in the sub-Salin basin of Burma. It plans to undertake further development drilling to significantly increase its production.

Geopetrol
Gildo Pastor Center
7 Rue Du Gabian
MC 98000
Monaco
France

Fax: + 377 9310 1250
Email: contact@geoholding.com

German Travel Network – NEW
The German Travel Network is a German tourism company which organises holidays to Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Managing Director
German Travel Network
Bahnhofstrasse 22
91126 Schwabach
Germany
Fax: +49 9122 634 526

Ginnacle Import-Export Pte Ltd
Ginnacle is a company located in Singapore involved in the sales and marketing of Burmese teak lumber, decking and furniture. The Burmese regime owns all teak plantations in Burma and teak sales earn the regime millions of pounds every year.

Ginnacle Import-Export Pte Ltd
7500A Beach Road
05-318, The Plaza
Singapore 199591

Fax: + (65) 6 296 6629
Email: teakwood@singnet.com.sg

GMS Power Public Company Limited – NEW
GMS is one of Thailand’s largest power developers, with its parent company MDX group it is involved in the Salween Dam project, in Eastern Burma. The US$ 6 billion project has led to over 300,000 people being forcibly relocated and the militarisation of the surrounding area which has resulted in an increase in reports of torture, extrajudicial killing and other human rights abuses. Over four fifths of the electricity from the project will be exported to Thailand.

Managing Director
GMS Power Public Company Limited
14th floor, The Column Tower
199 Ratchadapisek Road
Klongtoey
Bankok, 10110
Thailand

Golden Aaron Pte. Ltd
Golden Aaron Pte. Ltd. is a Singaporean oil corporation. The company is part of a consortium which in 2005 signed three production sharing contracts with state run Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise, to explore for oil and gas in Burma, both on and offshore. It is a project which will undoubtedly provide the Burmese junta with a large and valuable source of income. The same consortium signed similar deals in 2004.

Golden Aaron Pte. Ltd.
3 Shenton Way 10-01
Shenton House
Singapore 068805

Gold Water Resources Co Ltd. – NEW
Gold Water Resources is a leading Chinese power company which is involved in the Salween Dam project, in Eastern Burma. The US$ 6 billion project has led to over 300,000 people being forcibly relocated and the militarisation of the surrounding area which has resulted in an increase in reports of torture, extrajudicial killing and other human rights abuses. Over four fifths of the electricity from the project will be exported to Thailand.

No Contact detail available

H

Hanergy/Farsighted Investment Group – NEW
Hanergy, also known as Farsighted Investment Group, is a Chinese power company which is involved in the Salween Dam project, in Eastern Burma. The US$ 6 billion project has led to over 300,000 people being forcibly relocated and the militarisation of the surrounding area which has resulted in an increase in reports of torture, extrajudicial killing and other human rights abuses. Over four fifths of the electricity from the project will be exported to Thailand.

Managing Director
Hanergy/Farsighted Investement Group
North of Floor 11
Office Building of Capital Times Square
No. 88 Xichang’an Jie
Xi Cheng District
Beijing 100031
People’s Republic of China

Tel: +86-10-83914567
Fax: +86-10-83914666
Email: office@farsighted.cn
Web: www.farsighted.cn/english

Hapag-Lloyd
Hapag-Lloyd is a German container shipping line and holiday cruise operator. Its container division has an office in Burma as part of its operation to export Burmese products. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises includes Burma on their cruises in Asia. Hapag-Lloyd is active in the UK container shipping market.

Michael Behrendt
Chairman
Hapag-Lloyd AG
Ballindamm 25
D-20095 Hamburg
Germany

Managing Director
Hapag-Lloyd UK
48a Cambridge Road
Hapag-Lloyd House
Barking
Essex IG11 8HH
UK

Fax: 0044 20 8507 4165

Helicopters New Zealand
Helicopters New Zealand (NZ) are a New Zealand helicopter hire company that specialises in helicopter hire for difficult environments, including the oil and gas industry. Helicopters NZ have been hired by Daewoo to work on the Shwe gas field.

Managing Director
Helicopters NZ
Private Bag 9
Nelson
New Zealand

Fax: 00 643 5475598
Email: enquiries@helicoptersnz.com

Hunter Publishing/Nelles Guides
Hunter Publishing is an American publishing company that produces a guide to Burma under its Nelles Guide imprint. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Managing Director
Hunter Publishing
PO Box 746
Walpole,
MA 02081
USA

Email: comments@hunterpublishing.com

Hutchison Whampoa/3 Mobile/Superdrug
Hutchison Whampoa Ltd is a Hong Kong based company with a wide range of investments around the world. In Burma it operates Myanmar International Terminals Thilawa (MITT), a major port in Burma. It describes these port terminals as “strategically positioned to facilitate and service Myanmar’s international trade.” In the UK, Hutchison owns 3 Mobile, Superdrug, three major ports – Felixstowe, Harwich International and Thamesport, and has major stakes in luxury property developments such as Royal Gate in Kensington, Belgravia Place near Sloane Square and Albion Wharf in Chelsea.

Mr. Li Ka-shing
Hutchison Whampoa Limited
22/F Hutchison House
10 Harcourt Road
Central
Hong Kong

Email: info@hutchison-whampoa.com
Email: laurac@hwl.com.hk
I

Impact Publications
Impact Publications is an American publishing company that publishes a guide to Burma. The guide is available in several countries. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities. Impact Publications have sent abusive emails to people writing to express their concern about Impact promoting tourism to Burma.

Ron and Caryl Krannich
Impact Publications
9104 Manassas Drive, Suite N
Manassas Park, VA 20111-5211
USA
Fax: 00 1 703 3359486
Email: krannich@starpower.net

Insight Guides
Insight Guides is an independent publishing company that produces holiday guides, including a guide to Burma that promotes tourism to the country. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Managing Director
Insight Guides
58 Borough High Street
London SE1 1XF
UK

Fax: 0044 20 7403 0290
Email: feedback@insightguides.co.uk
Email: pr@insightguides.co.uk

Interra Resources
Singapore listed Interra Resource’s principal activities are the exploration and operation of oil fields for the production of crude petroleum. It operates in Indonesia and Burma. In Burma its subsidiary Goldwater Oil was the first foreign oil company to extract oil in Burma. It is currently engaged in oil and gas exploration and production through its jointly controlled venture with Geopetrol called Goldpetrol.

Interra Resources Limited
391A Orchard Road 13-06
Ngee Ann City Tower A
Singapore 238873

Fax:+ (65) 6738 1170
Email: interra@interraresources.com

Itera Group
Itera Group is a Russian oil and gas company. In September 2006 it signed a production sharing contract for oil and gas exploration with the regime.

Igor Viktorich Makarov
Chariman
Itera Group
117209, Sevastopolsky Prospekt,
28, Bldg1
Moscow
Russian Federation

Itochu Corporation Ltd – NEW
Marubeni-Itochu is a joint venture company between two Japanese steel companies, Marubeni and Itochu. Marubeni-Itochu’s subsidiary in Burma, Myanma Steel Industries Co., Ltd, supplies steel tubulars to the gas industry in Burma. Gas revenues are a major source of revenue for the Burmese regime, supplying over $2.7 billion in 2006.

Managing Director
Itochu Corporation Ltd
37990
Kita-Aoyama 2-chome
Minato-ku
Tokyo 107-8077
Japan

Ivanhoe Mines
Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company which was the largest foreign mining investor in Burma operating the Monywa Copper mine in a joint venture with the regime. Rail and power infrastructure in the area of the mine was built using forced labour. It is estimated that the mine could be earning the regime over $40 million a year. Following pressure from a business partner Ivanhoe attempted to sell its interests in the mine in 2006. Having failed to find a buyer the mine has been put into a trust. However Ivanhoe and the regime still receive the profits from this project.

Robert Friedland
Ivanhoe Mines
World Trade Centre
Suite 654-999 Canada Place
Vancouver BC
Canada V6C 3E1

Email: info@ivanhoemines.com

J

Jet Gold Corp
Jet Gold Corp is a Canadian mining company. Its major focus is searching for gold in Shan state in Burma.

Robert L Card
President
Jet Gold Corp
1102 – 475 Howe Street
Vancouver, BC
Canada V6C 2B3

Fax: 00 1 604 687 7848
Email: info@jetgoldcorp.com

Jetstar Asia – NEW
Jetstar Asia promotes Burma as a tourist destination and flies to the country in partnership with regime owned Myanmar Airways International. Burma’s democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and the country’s democracy movement asks tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities. Jetstar Asia is based in Singapore and is a partnership between Qantas, who hold the controlling 49% share, Tony Chew, FF Wong and Temasek Holdings.

Managing Director
Jetstar Asia
Qantas Centre
203 Coward Street
Mascot NSW 2020
Australia

Journeys International, Inc. – NEW
Journeys International is an American tour holiday company that sells tours to Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese democracy movement have asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Many of Burma’s tourists facilities were built with forced labour.

Managing Director
Journeys International, Inc.
107 Aprill Drive
Suite 3
Ann Arbor
MI 48103-1903
USA
Fax +1 734 665 2945

JSC Zarubezhneft Joint Stock Company – NEW
JSC Zarubezhneft is a Russian oil and gas company which has interests in the gas sector in Burma, specifically the M-8 block. The gas sector is the regime’s chief source of income generating over $2.7 billion in 2006.

Managing Director
(JSC) Zarubezhneft Joint Stock Company
Building 1
9/1/1 Armiansky pereulok
Moscow 101990
Russian Federation

K

Kajima
Kajima is a Japanese construction company with contracts all over the world. Kajima has an office in Burma and has undertaken several construction contracts for the regime. In the UK, Kajima has won several PFI projects, including building schools in Camden and Ealing.

Managing Director
Kajima Europe UK
Grove House
248a Marylebone Road
London NW1 6JZ
UK

Fax 0044 20 7465 8634
Email: haverstockmail@kajima.co.uk

Managing Director
Kajima Head Office
2-7, Motoakasaka 1-chome
Minato-ku
Tokyo, 107-8388
Japan

Keppel Corporation
Singapore’s Keppel Corporation is a multinational corporation with interests in three key business areas: Offshore and Marine, Property and Infrastructure. Its property wing- Keppel Land has a presence in eight Asian countries including Burma where it owns the Sedona Hotels in Rangoon and Mandalay.

Keppel Corporation Ltd.
Group Corporate Communications
1 HarbourFront Avenue
18-01 Keppel Bay Tower
Singapore 098632

Fax: + (65) 6413 645
Email: keppelgroup@kepcorp.com

Kerry Logistics Group/Kuok Group
Kerry Logistics is a goods transport logistics company with branches in 12 countries, including the UK. Kerry Logistics also operates in Burma, facilitating the export of Burmese goods. Kerry Logistics is part of the Singaporean conglomerate, Kuok Group.

Managing Director
Kerry Logistics (UK) Ltd
Unit 1 Broadoak Industrial Park
Ashburton Road West
Trafford Park
Manchester
M17 1RW
UK

Fax: 0044 161 872 9016

Kuok Nock Nien
Kuok Group
No. 1 Kim Seng Promenade, #07-01
Great World City
Singapore 237994

Kinden Corporation – NEW
Kinden is a Japanese engineering company with investments in Burma. The company’s investments, such as the Yangon Commercial Tower, help provide funding to the Burmese regime.

Managing Director
Kinden Corporation
2-1-21 Kudan-Minami,
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 102-8628
Japan

KOGAS
KOGAS – The Korea Gas Corporation – is a South Korean gas company. KOGAS is a partner is the massive Shwe gas field consortium off the coast of Burma. It has a 10% stake.

The President
KOGAS
215 Chongja-dong
Paundang-gu
Songnam
Kyanggi-do
463-754
Korea

Email: kogasmaster@kogas.or.kr

Kordia – NEW
Kordia is a New Zealand state owned telecoms company which has been undertaking contract work for the Burmese regime. Kordia operates in Burma through a joint venture company called Kordia Solutions Thailand with the Thai firm Alt Inter Corporation. Their joint venture company has been working on a $80,000 contract with the regime owned Myanmar Post and Telecommunications on mobile phone towers in Burma. Mobile phone services are strictly controlled in Burma and it is extremely difficult for ordinary citizens to afford or acquire a mobile phone. However for supporters of the regime it is relatively easy to acquire a phone through the pro-regime Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA). It is reported that the USDA members raise funds by selling mobile phones, which they acquire due to their close ties to the regime.

Managing Director
Kordia
Level 4 , Fidelity House
81 Carlton Gore Road
Newmarket
Auckland 1023
New Zealand

Kunming Hydroelectric Investigation, design and Research Institute – NEW
Kunming is a XX company that is involved with a hydroelectricity project in Burma that has been associated with human rights abuses. Dam projects in Burma have been associated with forced relocations, extrajudicial killings, forced labour, death by labour and torture.

The Chief Executive
Kunming Hydroelectric Investigation, design and Research Institute

115 East Road, people in Kunming
50051
Zip Code: 650051
China

Tel:0871-3062043 Tel :0871-3062043

Tel: 0871-3162550 Fax :0871-3162550
Email: khidi@public.km.yn.cn

Kuoni – NEW
Kuoni describes itself as “one of Europe’s leading tourist travel corporations” and “Britain’s best luxury travel and tour operator”. The company sells tours to Burma through its French and Spanish brochures as well as through its subsidiary Asian Trails. In 2003 the company stopped selling tours to Burma but backtracked on the decision and recommenced selling tours in 2005. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

The Chief Executive
Kuoni Travel Holding Ltd.
Neue Hard 7
CH-8010 Zurich
Switzerland
Fax: 00 41 44 271 52 82

L

Leeward Capital Corp
Leeward Capital Corp are a Canadian mining company. They are in a joint venture with the regime to mine and export amber.

Managing Director
Leeward Capital Corp
Unit 4, 1922 – 9th Avenue SE
Calgary, Alberta T2G 0V2
Canada

Email: president@leewardcapital.com

Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet is an Australian multinational publishing company specialising in travel guides. Lonely Planet publishes a guide to Burma, which encourages tourists to visit the country. On October 1st 2007 the BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, bought a 75% stake in Lonely Planet. Lonely Planet vigorously defends tourism to Burma, attempting to undermine calls by Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma’s democracy movement for tourists to stay away. The BBC charter states that the activities of BBC Worldwide must not “jeopardise the reputation of the BBC or the value of the BBC brand”. BBC Worldwide maintains that Lonely Planet will continue to publish its Burma guidebook; even though the book fails to warn readers which hotels are regime owned or highlight which tourists facilities were built or prepared for tourism with forced labour (such as the “ huge gleaming” airport in Mandalay and Mrauk U in Rakhaing State). The Burmese regime has identified tourism as a vital source of income.

Judy Slatyer
Chief Executive
Lonely Planet
90 Maribyrnong Street
Footscray, Victoria 3011
AUSTRALIA

Fax: 00 61 3 8379 8111
Email: talk2us@lonelyplanet.com.au

Lumber Mart SDN BHD – NEW
Lumber Mart International is a Malaysian company that exports Burmese timber products. The company plans to establish over 100 wood based factories in Burma. The Burmese regime owns all teak plantations in Burma and teak sales earn the regime millions of pounds every year.

Mr Charles Lee
Lumber Mart SDN BHD
No.2, Jalan Teknologi 3/1
Selangor Science Park 1
Kota Damansara
47810 Petaling Jaya
Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

M

Maersk
A.P.Møller Maersk is a Danish multinational company that specialises in shipping, but also has interests in oil & gas exploration, air transport, and supermarkets. In Burma Maersk act as a shipping agent through a company set up to act as their local representative. The agent – Win Trade Ltd – arranges exports from Burma using the regime owned Myanmar Five Star Line. Maersk are joint owners of Dansk Supermarket, Denmark’s second largest supermarket chain, which includes Netto supermarkets.

Jess Søderberg
Chief Executive Officer
A.P. Møller
Esplanaden 50
1098 Copenhagen K
Denmark

Email: cphinfo@maersk.com

Marubeni
Marubeni is a Japanese company with interests ranging from oil and gas to clothing and timber. In Burma they helped finance the Monywa Copper mine developed by Ivanhoe. Marubeni-Itochu is a joint venture between Marubeni and another Japanese steel companies, Itochu. Their subsidiary in Burma, Myanma Steel Industries Co., Ltd, supplies steel tubulars to the gas industry in Burma. Gas revenues are a major source of revenue for the Burmese regime; supplying over $2.7 billion in 2006. In the UK Marubeni develops oil and gas reserves in the North Sea.

Managing Director
Marubeni UK Plc
120 Moorgate Street
London EC2M 6SS

Fax: 020 7826 8686

Managing Director
Marubeni
4-2 Ohtemachi 1-chome
Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100-8088,
Japan

Fax: 00 813 3282 2455

MDX PCL – NEW
MDX is one of Thailand’s largest power developers, with its subsidiary GMS Power Public Company it is involved in the Salween Dam project, , in Eastern Burma. The US$ 6 billion project has led to over 300,000 people being forcibly relocated and the militarisation of the surrounding area, which has resulted in an increase in reports of torture, extrajudicial killing and other human rights abuses. Over four fifths of the electricity from the project will be exported to Thailand.

Managing Director
MDX PCL
International public company
12A/F 199 Ratchadapisek Rd
Khlong-Toei
Bangkok
Thailand

Mekong Travel
Mekong Travel is a travel company based in Buckinghamshire which specialises in holidays to Indochina, including Burma. On their website they describe how decades of isolation as a result of military dictatorship “have preserved here many of the traditional features, physical and cultural, which have been lost in other Asian countries.”

Managing Director
Mekong Travel
16 Ledborough Wood
Beaconsfield
Buckinghamshire HP9 2DJ
UK
Fax: 01494 681631
Email: go@mekong-travel.com

Mitsubishi – NEW
Mitsubishi describes itself as “Japan’s largest general trading company”. The company maintains an office in Rangoon, where it facilitates the distribution and sale of numerous products and services. Historically, Mitsubishi has invested US $70 million in the Yetagun gas project; Nippon Oil is also a Mitsubishi Company. Mitsubishi also carries out work for the Myanmar Port Authority, supplying cranes and dredgers – by increasing the capacity of Rangoon Port the company is enabling the regime to increase the profits it makes from trade.

Mitsubishi Corporation
Mitsubishi Shoji Building
3-1, Marunouchi 2-Chome,
Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo, 100-8086,
Japan

Mitsubishi Corporation (UK Office)
Mid City Place
71 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6BA
United Kingdom

Tel: 020 7025 3000
Fax: 020 7025 3499

Mitsui OSK Lines
M.O.L is a global business concerned with marine shipping and logistics in what it calls a ‘truly borderless transportation network that brings goods to market all over the world’. Yangon is one of the company’s major calling ports.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd.
1-1 Toranomon 2-chome
Minato-ku
Tokyo 105-8688
Japan

Fax: +81-3-3587-7734

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance is one of Japan’s largest non-life insurers with a workforce of over 13,000 and a net income in 2006 of over 124,000 million yen. Included in its large overseas network is a representative office in Yangon.

Takeo Inokuchi- Chairman and CEO
Hiroyuki Uemura- President and CEO
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company
27-2, Shinkawa 2-Chome
Chuo-ku
Tokyo 104-8252
Japan

Fax: + 81 3 3297 6888

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company (Europe) Ltd.
6th Floor, New London House
6 London Street
London
EC3R 7LP

Fax: 020 7816 0220

Mountain Travel Sobek
Mountain Travel Sobek is an adventure travel company with offices in the US and UK. They operate tours to Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Managing Director
Mountain Travel Sobek U.K.
67, Verney Avenue
High Wycombe
Bucks HP12 3ND
UK

Fax: 01494 465526
Email: sales@mtsobekeu.com
Email: info@mtsobek.com

MPRL E&P Pte Ltd. – NEW
With headquarters in Singapore, and registered in the British Virgin Islands, MPRL E&P was founded in 1996, when it was in a joint venture with Baker Hughes; it is now in 100% charge of the Mann Oil Field on which it has already invested approximately US$ 90 million, making it the third largest investor in the onshore oil projects in Burma. In January 2006 it signed another contract with the state-owned MOGE for the development of the offshore Block A-6, in a deal over five years worth a minimum of US$ 35.5 million to the junta. The company plans to increase its investment in the country yet further, stating ‘MPRL believes that there are still many opportunities to expand further in the country and MPRL has in fact applied for additional onshore acreage’. The gas sector is the regime’s chief source of income generating over $2.7 billion in 2006.

Mr Terence J. Howe
MPRL E&P Pte Ltd.
20 Cecil Street
#13-02, Equity Plaza
Singapore 04970
Web: www.mprlep.com
Email: cm-mprl@mprlnet.com.mm

N

New Horizons Travels and Tours Ltd
New Horizons Travels and Tours is a London based company that organises holidays to Burma. They promote them through their website burmaexpeditions.com.

MiMi Tin Tun
New Horizons Travels & Tours Ltd.
50 Burrard Road
West Hampstead
London NW6 1DD
UK

Nikko Hotels International/Japan Airlines
Nikko Hotels International, a subsidiary of Japan Airlines, owns hotels all over the world. In Burma Nikko operate the Hotel Nikko Royal Lake Yangon. In the UK they own the Montcalm-Hotel Nikko London.

Shosuke Machida
Chief Executive
Nikko Hotels
JAL Bldg.
2-4-11, Higashishinagawa,
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 104-0002
JAPAN

Fax: 00 81-3-3458-3950
Email: akatz@nikkohotels.com
Email: montcalm@montcalm.co.uk

Managing Director
Japan Airlines
JAL Bldg.
2-4-11, Higashishinagawa,
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 104-0002
JAPAN

Fax: 00 81-3-3458-3950

Nippon Oil
Japanese oil firm Nippon Oil are one of the joint venture partners developing the Yadana offshore gas field in Burma, which earns the military regime millions of dollars. It is part of the Mitsubishi group of companies.

Fumiaki Watari
President
Nippon Oil
3-12 Nishi Shimbashi 1-chome
Minato-ku, Tokyo 105 8412, Japan

A Suzuki
Managing Director
Nippon Oil Exploration and Production UK Ltd
38 Finsbury Square
London EC2A 1PX
UK

Fax: 020 7309 7676

Noble Caledonia
Noble Caledonia is a British holiday cruise company offering cruises all over the world. Their brochure includes cruises on the Irrawaddy River in Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Managing Director
Noble Caledonia Limited
2 Chester Close, Belgravia,
London SW1X 7BE

Fax: 020 7245 0388
Email: info@noble-caledonia.co.uk

NYK Shipping
NYK is the world’s largest shipping company. It transports garment exports from Burma. Since being placed on the Dirty List in 2004 NYK has taken some welcome steps to reduce its involvement in Burma. It has stopped carrying timber exports from Burma and its American subsidiary Crystal Cruises has stopped visiting Burma. NYK has significant operations in the UK, operating out of ports across the country.

President
NYK Line
3-2, Marunouchi 2 Chome
Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo
100-0005 Japan

Fax: 00 8133284 6105

Managing Director
NYK Line Europe
CityPoint, 1 Ropemaker Street
London EC2Y 9NY

Fax: 020 7090 2404

O

OCBC Bank
OCBC Bank is Singapore’s longest established bank, and is today one of Asia’s leading financial services groups with gross assets of S$136 billion. The group has a global network of more than 310 branches and representative offices in 15 countries including Burma.

OCBC Bank
65 Chulia Street
OCBC Centre
Singapore 049513

Fax: +65 6535 7477
Email: corpcomms@ocbc.com.sg

Old Burma Tour and Trading Co
This Florida based company, with offices in Rangoon, is a provider of custom made tours of Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Further, forced labour has been used to develop certain tourist facilities.

Old Burma Tour and Trading Company
1825 Ponce De Leon Boulevard
P.O. Box 383
Coral Gables, Florida
33134 USA

Fax: 305 569 0074
Email: info@oldburma.com

ONGC Videsh
ONGC Videsh is one of the largest companies in India. It is a partner in the massive Shwe gas field consortium off the coast of Burma. It has a 20% stake.

Subir Raha
Chairman
ONGC VIDESH
6th Floor, “Kailash”
26, Kasturba Gandhi Marg,
New Delhi 110 001
India

Fax: 00 91 11 23730369

Orient Express
Orient Express has its registered office in Bermuda, is managed from London, and is listed on the New York stock exchange. The company specialises mainly in hotels, but also offers holidays to Burma including ‘Road to Mandalay’ cruises on the Irrawaddy River. It has expanded its interests in Burma by taking a stake in the Pansea hotel chain – now rebranded as ‘Pansea Orient Express’ – which has a hotel in Rangoon. Pansea Orient Express is also building a new hotel in Bagan, Burma.

James B. Sherwood
Chairman
Orient-Express Hotels Ltd
Sea Containers House
20 Upper Ground
London SE1 9PF

Fax: 020 7805 5938

P

Peregrine Adventures
Peregrine Adventures is an Australian travel company with an office in London. Peregrine offers 12 day tours of Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Managing Director
Peregrine Tours
First Floor, 8 Clerewater Place,
Lower Way, Thatcham
Berkshire RG19 3RF

Email: sales@peregrineadventures.com

Managing Director
Peregrine Adventures
258 Lonsdale St
Melbourne VIC 3000
Australia

Email: websales@peregrineadventures.com

Petronas
Petronas is a Malaysian state owned oil and gas company. It has several contracts with the regime in Burma to extract and explore for oil and gas in the country.

Tan Sri Datuk Seri Azizan Zainul Abidin
Chairman
Petronas, Tower 1
Petronas Twin Towers
50088 Kuala Lumpa
Malaysia

Email: ooiinnhoe@petronas.com.my

PETROVIETNAM – NEW
Wholly owned by the Vietnamese government, PETROVIETNAM (officially known as the Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation) is responsible for all oil and gas production in that country. In August of 2007, PETROVIETNAM entered into an agreement with the regime’s ‘Myanmar Energy Planning Department’ for the “strategic cooperation in oil and gas”.

The Chief Executive
PETROVIETNAM
22 Ngo Quyen Street
Hoan Kiem District
Hanoi
Vietnam
Phone: 84-4-8252526
Fax: 84-4-8265942
Email: hdqt@hn.pv.com.vn
Web: www.petrovietnam.com.vn

Pettitts
Pettitts is a travel company based in Kent. They offer a 9 day tour of Burma. They are one of the few travel companies to mention that there are ethical problems with visiting Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Steven Pettitt
Managing Director
Pettitts
Bayham House
12-16 Grosvenor Road
Tunbridge Wells
Kent TN1 2AB

Fax: 01892 521500
Email: pettitts@btclick.com

PSL Energy Services Ltd. – NEW
PSL Energy Services is a UK based oil and gas company which provides services to companies operating in Burma. The gas sector is the regime’s chief source of income generating over $2.7 billion in 2006.

Managing Director
PSL Energy Services Ltd.
Badentoy Avenue
Portlethan
Aberdeen AB12 4YB
UK

PTTEP
PTTEP – The PTT Exploration and Production Company, is a Thai company that is largely state owned. PTTEP owns a 25.5 % stake in the Yadana gas field in Burma, and a 19.3% stake in the Yetagun field. PTTEP is also planning to expand its operations in Burma.

Mr. Maroot Mrigadat
President
PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited
PTTEP Office Bldg.
555 Vibhavadi-Rangsit Rd.
Chatuchak,
Bangkok 10900
Thailand

Fax: 00 66 2537 4444

Purple Dragon
Purple Dragon is a sister company of Thailand based Utopia Tours. It specialises in holidays for gays and lesbians. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Managing Director
Purple Dragon
Door East Ltd.
119/5-10 Suriwong Road
Bangkok 10500
THAILAND

Q

Qantas – NEW
Qantas holds a controlling majority 49% stake in Jetstar Asia. Despite stating in 2004 that Qantas and Jetstar Asia would “do the right thing” on Burma and expressing support for the democracy movement’s call for tourists not to holiday in Burma. Jetstar Asia now promotes Burma as a tourist destination. It flies to the country in partnership with regime owned Myanmar Airways International. Burma’s democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and the country’s democracy movement asks tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities. Jetstar Asia is based in Singapore and is a partnership between Qantas, who hold the controlling 49% share, Tony Chew, FF Wong and Temasek Holdings.

Managing Director
Qantas Centre
Level 9
Building A
203 Coward Street
MASCOT
NSW
AUSTRALIA 2020
Tel: +61 2 9691 3636
Fax: +61 2 9691 3339

R

Ratchaburi Co – NEW
Ratchaburi Co. is a leading Thai power company which is involved in the Salween Dam project, in Eastern Burma. The US$ 6 billion project has led to over 300,000 people being forcibly relocated and the militarisation of the surrounding area which has resulted in an increase in reports of torture, extrajudicial killing and other human rights abuses. Over four fifths of the electricity from the project will be exported to Thailand.

Managing Director
Ratchaburi Co
SCB Park Plaza East,
Tower 3,
Fl. 20th,
19 Ratchadapisek Rd.
Chatuchak
Bangkok, 10900
Thailand

Road to Mandalay
Road to Mandalay is a travel and export company based in Burma and the UK. In Burma it operates under the name Golden Pagoda Travel. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Gerry Haines
Road to Mandalay
c/o 16 Wynnstay Road
Broughton
Flintshire CH4 0RE

S

SapuraCrest Petroleum Bhd
SapuraCrest is a leading oil and gas services provider in the Southeast Asia region, with further projects in Australia, the Middle East, and India. The company has been involved in offshore oil and gas drilling in Burma.

SapuraCrest Petroleum Bhd
7 Jalan Tasik
The Mines Resort City
43300 Seri Kembangan
Selangor
Malaysia

Tel: +603 8659 8800
Fax: +603 8659 8811

SBM Offshore
SBM Offshore is a Dutch company formerly known as IHC Caland. It is a management holding company of a group of international companies working as suppliers to the offshore oil and gas industry on a global basis. It owns and operates a Floating Storage and Offloading System in Burma under a long term lease contract with Petronas.

SBM Offshore N.V.
PO Box 31
3100 AA Schiedam
The Netherlands

Fax: +31 (0) 10 232 0999

Scansia Sdn Bhd
Scansia Sdn Bhd is a Malaysian company. Scansia Myanmar manufactures garden furniture in a plant in Rangoon. All its timber is purchased from the regime owned company Myanmar Timber Enterprise (MTE). Scansia also give 20 percent of the profits from their Burmese operations to the regime.

Mr Arve Verleite
Managing Director
Scansia Sdn Bhd
98 Lorong Semartak 4
Taman semarak
0900 Kulim, Kedah Darul Aman
Malaysia

Schenker
Schenker is a German logistics company with an office in Rangoon, through which it facilitates the export of Burmese goods. Schenker also has offices in several UK ports.

The President
Schenker AG
Corporate Communications
Alfredstrasse 81
45130 Essen
Germany

Fax: 00 49 201 8781 8495
Email: info@schenker.com

Schlumberger
Schlumberger is a technology company, which operates all over the world. Schlumberger Oilfield Services operates offshore gas rigs in Burma. It also operates oil rigs in UK waters in the North Sea.

Managing Director
Schlumberger Oilfield Services
Unit 1, Enterprise Drive,
Westhill Industrial Estate
Westhill
Aberdeenshire AB32 6TQ

Fax: 01224 385601
Email: ukinfo@slb.com

Andrew Gould
Chairman
Schlumberger
153 E. 53rd St., 57th floor
New York,
NY 10022-4624
USA

Fax: 00 1 212 350 94 57

SGS Group
SGS Group, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is a global leader in the inspection, verification, testing and certification industry. It has over 34,000 employees and a presence in well over 120 countries. This includes Burma where it has a subsidiary – SGS (Myanmar) Ltd which plays a key role in the facilitation of Burma’s international trading.

SGS Societe Generale de Surveillance S.A.
1 place des Alpes
P.O. Box 2152
1211 Geneva 1
Switzerland

Fax: + (41 22) 739.98.86
Email: enquiries@sgs.com

Shangri-La Hotels
Shangri-La Hotels is a Singaporean hotel company. It operates the Traders hotel in Rangoon. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities. In the UK, Shangri-La plans to operate an opulent 5 star hotel in the proposed ‘shard of glass’ tower block at London Bridge.

Managing Director
Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd
21/F CITIC Tower
1 Tim Mei Avenue, Central
Hong Kong SAR

Fax: 00 852 2599 3131

Siam Divers – NEW
Siam Divers is a Thailand based tourism company which organises diving safaris and adventures in Thailand and Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Managing Director
Siam Divers
68/14 Soi Katekwan,
Mu 2,
Kata Beach
Phuket 83100
Thailand

Sichuan Machinery Equipment Import Export Co.- NEW
Sochuan Machinery is a Chinese company that is involved with a hydroelectricity project in Burma that has been associated with human rights abuses. Dam projects in Burma have been associated with forced relocations, extrajudicial killings, forced labour, death by labour and torture.

The Chief Executive
Sichuan Machinery Equipment Import Export Co.
2 Tongfuxiang
Xiyulongst.

Chengdu
sichuan
P.R. China

Fax: 86-28-6743535 6743571
Tel: 86-28-6743535 6755264
E-mail:scmcmtr@scsti.ac.cn

Siemens
Siemens are a German engineering and technology company operating all over the world. Siemens are supplying gas turbines to Total for a new platform in the Yadana gas field.

Chairman
Siemens
Wittelsbacher Platz 2
D-80333 Munchen
Germany

Email: welcome.pgi@siemens.com

Silverbird Travel
Silverbird Travel is a London based travel company that operates tours to Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Managing Director
SilverBird Travel
4 Northfields Prospect
Putney Bridge Road
London SW18 1PE

Fax: 020 8875 1874
Email: mail@silverbird.co.uk

Silver Wave Energy – NEW
Silver Wave Energy is Singapore registered but also has links to Russia and India. It has interested in Onshore Block B-2 and Offshore block A-7 in Burma. It reportedly has close links with the Burmese regime. The gas sector is the regime’s chief source of income generating over $2.7 billion in 2006.

Managing Director
Silver Wave Energy
714 Traders Hotel
Yangon
Myanmar

Sinohydro Corporation – NEW
In June 2006, Sinohydro (formerly known as China National Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Corporation) signed a deal with EGAT (see above) and the Burmese military junta to construct a US $1 billion dam at Hat Gyi, in Karen state. Forced relocations have been recorded in Karen state. Sinohydro – China’s largest dam constructor – has been previously criticized by the Chinese government over “safety or environmental pollution accidents”.

No. 22 West Road Che Gongzhuang
Hai Dian District
Beijing 100044
People’s Republic of China
Email: infocenter@sinohydro.com
Web: www.sinohydro.com/english

Sompo Japan
Sompo Japan is a Japanese insurance company that provides insurance and reinsurance services to companies operating in Burma. Sompo Japan has offices across the world, including in the UK.

Hirosho Hirano
President
Sompo Japan
26-1, Nishi-Shinjuku 1-chome
Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo 160-8338
Japan

Sri Asia Tourism
Sri Asia Tourism service is a Burmese travel company offering holidays to Burma through offices in the UK and Australia.

Managing Director
Sri Asia Tourism
1A Gregory Place
Kensington, London W8 4NG

Fax: 020 7938 2194
Email: ameriuk@dircon.co.uk

Steppes Travel/Steppes East
Steppes East is a UK travel company offering holidays to Burma. They continue to operate tours to the country despite Nicholas A G Laing of Steppes East admitting to the Burma Campaign UK that: “Myanmar is a highly controversial subject which I have yet to fathom.” Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Nick Laing
Managing Director
Steppes East
51 Castle Street
Gloucestershire GL7 1QD

Fax: 01285 885888
Email: nick@steppeseast.co.uk

Sumitomo Corporation
Sumitomo Corporation is a Japanese conglomerate with extensive financial interests in the UK. Sumitomo is in a joint venture with Myanmar General and Maintenance Industries (MGMI) producing steel. MGMI is owned and controlled by the military regime.

Motoyuki Oka
President and Chief Executive
Sumitomo Corporation
1-8-11 Harumi, Chuo-ku
Tokyo 104-8610
Japan

Mr Takaaki Shibata
Managing Director
Sumitomo Corporation Europe Plc
Vinters’ Place,
68 Upper Thames Street
London EC4V 3BJ

Fax: 020 7246 3921
Email: info@sumitomocorp.co.uk

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group
SMFG was established in 2002 as a holding company for the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC). SMBC came into existence the preceding year through the merger of the Sakura Bank and the Sumitomo Bank. SMBC operates a representative office in Yangon and, through the services it provides, serves to facilitate trade and financial transactions in Burma.

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group
Investor Relations Department
1-1 Yurakucho 1-chome
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100-0006
Japan

Tel: + 81-3-5512-3411

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe Limited
Temple Court
11 Queen Victoria Street
London
EC4N 4TA

Fax: 020 7236 0049

SUN Group Enterprises Pvt Ltd – NEW
The Sun Group is an Indian investment group that has interests in the offshore M-8 block in Burma. The gas sector is the regime’s chief source of income generating over $2.7 billion in 2006.

Managing Director
SUN Group Enterprises Pvt Ltd
8th Floor
Meridien Commercial Tower
Raisina Road
New Delhi 110001
India

Sun Wood Industries
Sun Wood Industries is a Thailand timber exporter which sources teak from Burma. Timber exports are an important source of income for the regime.

Managing Director
Sun Wood Industries
75/4 Moo 2 Udomsorayuth Rd
Klong Jig
Nabg-Pa-In
Ayuthaya 13160
Thailand

Email: info@sunwoodgroup.com

Sutech Engineering Co Ltd
Bangkok-based Sutech Engineering Company is primarily involved in the construction and running of processing mills. In Burma it is engaged in the production and processing of sugar in conjunction with the state run Myanmar Sugarcane Enterprise and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC). In late 2006 it agreed a further joint venture with the MEC for the construction of what will be Burma’s largest sugar mill.

Sutech Engineering Co. Ltd
17th Floor Sinn Sathorm Tower
77/64 Krungthonburi Klongsarn
Bangkok 10600
Thailand

Fax: +66 (0) 2440-0208
Email: info@suenco.co.th

Suzuki
Suzuki’s main business is the manufacture of cars and motorbikes. In 1998 Suzuki invested $6.9 million to set up a joint venture with Myanmar Automobile & Diesel Engine Industries (MADI). MADI is controlled by the military regime. Suzuki owns 60% of the business, MADI 30% with the remaining 10% split between two Burmese companies with close government links.

Managing Director
Suzuki GB PLC
46-62 Gatwick Rd
Crawley
West Sussex RH10 2XF

Osamu Suzuki
Chairman
Suzuki Head Office
300 Takatsuka
Hamamatsu
Japan

Swift
Swift is a financial services co-operative company owned and controlled by many of the world’s largest banks, including Citibank, HSBC and ABN Amro. Swift hosts an electronic network that banks use to make transfers to each other. Following the imposition of financial sanctions by the United States government in August 2003 the regime faced a crisis, unable to use dollars in financial transactions. Swift came to their aid, making four Burmese banks part of its network. The regime is now able to avoid US financial sanctions by making financial transfers in Euros using Swift’s network.

Jaap Kamp
Chairman, Swift
C/O ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
Head Office
Gustav Mahlerlaan 10
1082 PP Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Leonard H Schrank
Chief Executive Officer
Swift
Avenue Adèle 1
B-1310 La Hulpe
Belgium

Fax: 00 32 2 655 32 26
Email: kara.condon@swift.com

Managing Director
Swift
7th floor, The Corn Exchange
55 Mark Lane
London EC3R 7NE

Fax: 020 7762 2222

T

Taiga Consultant Ltd
Taiga Consultant Ltd is a Canadian geological consulting firm. Taiga has an office in Burma and works closely with the regime exploring for base and precious metals.

Managing Director
Taiga Consultants Ltd
No 4, 1944 – 9th Avenue SE
Calgary,
Alberta T2G 0V2
Canada

Email: taigaltd@taiga-ltd.com

Taisei
The Taisei Corporation is a Tokyo headquartered transnational construction and civil engineering corporation. With employees numbering nearly 10,000 and a history of involvement in over 50 countries worldwide, the corporation maintains a branch in Yangon. Their involvement there has included a leading role in the upgrade of Yangon International Airport alongside the Myanmar Construction Ministry, as well as office renovations for leading banks.

Taisei Corporation
1-25-1, Nishi-Shinjuku
Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo, 163-0606
Japan

Fax: +81 3 3345 0481

Tata – NEW
Tata is an Indian Conglomerate with investments all over the world. In 2008 it bought Jaguar and Land Rover, it also owns Tetley Tea and Corus. Tata has a wide range of investments in Burma many of which fund the regime. Their interests in Burma include the timber, tourism, energy, vehicle and information technology sectors. Tata companies have sold vehicles directly to the regime.

Managing Director
TATA group
Bombay House
24 Hoimodi Street
Fort, Bombay 1
40001
India

David Good,
Chief representative for North America
Tata Sons (US)
1700, North Moore
St Suite 1005
Arlington, VA 22209
USA

Tennyson Travel
Tennyson Travel is a UK travel company that trades under the name Visit Vietnam. As well as tours to Vietnam it also operates tours to Burma, which it advertises in national newspapers. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities. Tennyson Travel also trades as Visit Asia.

Hung Nguyen
Managing Director
Tennyson Travel
30-32 Fulham High Street
London SW6 3LQ

Fax: 020 7736 5672
Email: tennyson@visitvietnam.co.uk

Total Oil
Total is in a joint venture with the military regime developing an offshore gas field in the Andaman sea. The gas is exported to Thailand through a pipeline that travels 65 kilometres through Burma. Total is one of the biggest foreign investors in Burma.

Christophe de Margerie
Chief Executive
Total
2 Place de la Coupole
La Defense 6
92400 Courbevoie
France

Managing Director
Total Holdings UK Limited
33 Cavendish Square
London W1G OPW

Fax: 020 7416 4497

Toyota – NEW
Toyota is the world’s biggest car manufacturer. One of Toyota’s subsidiaries, Toyota Tsusho, is in Business with Suzuki and Myanmar Automobile & Diesel Engine Industries (MADI). MADI is controlled by the military regime. Vehicles from this joint venture are used by the Burmese military.

Graham Smith
Senior Vice President
Toyota
Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA
Avenue Du Bourget 60
Borgetlaan 60
B-1140 Brussels
Belgium

Miguel Fonseca,
Toyota (GB)
Great Burgh
Burgh Heath
Epsom
Surrey
KT18 5UX

Mr Kiyoshi Tojo
General Manager
Europe Division
Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota City
1 Toyota-Cho
Toyota
Aichi
471-8571
Japan.

Trailblazer Guides
Trailblazer Guides publishes a guide to South East Asia that includes a section on Burma. This section facilitates tourism to the country. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Managing Director
Trailblazer Publications
The Old Manse, Tower Rd
Hindhead
Surrey GU26 6SU

Fax: 01428 607571
Email: info@trailblazer-guides.com

Trans Indus Ltd
Trans Indus is a British holiday company that operates tours to Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Managing Director
Trans Indus Ltd
Northumberland House,
11 The Pavement, Popes Lane,
Ealing,
London W5 4NG

Travel World Media
Travel World Media owns Elephantguide.com. Elephantguide.com is an online travel guide which includes a section facilitating tourism to Burma.

Managing Director
Travel World Media
Court Lodge
Avening,
Tetbury
Gloucestershire, GL8 8NY

Email: feedback@elephantguide.com

Twinza Oil – NEW
Twinza Oil, parent company of Danford Equities, is an Australian company that works in the oil and gas sector in Burma. Its CEO, Bill Clough, boasts of the company’s “close relationship” with the regime. Gas exports are the regime’s largest source of income.

Managing Director
Twinza Oil
Head Office & Principal Registered Office
Level 6
251 St Georges Terrace
Perth
Western Australia 6000

U

The Ultimate Travel Company/Worldwide Journeys & Expeditions
Worldwide Journeys is part of The Ultimate Travel Company. It offers tours to Burma. No mention is made of the military dictatorship. . Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Nick Van Gruisen
Managing Director
The Ultimate Travel Company
27 Vanston Place
London
SW6 1AZ

Fax: 020 7828 4856
Email: enquiry@theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk

Undiscovered Destinations Ltd – NEW
Undiscovered Destinations is a UK based specialist tour operator which runs four different tour trips to Burma, from 4 days beach holidays to 18 day cultural tours. Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese democracy movement have asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy.

Managing Director
Undiscovered Destinations Ltd
Saville Exchange
Howard Street
North Shields
Tyne and Wear
NE30 1SE

United Overseas Bank Group
The United Overseas Bank was founded in 1935 and is today a leading bank in Singapore and a dominant player in Asia-Pacific. As of 31 December 2005, the UOB Group had total assets of S$145.1 billion and shareholders’ equity of S$14.9 billion. UOB has a global network of branches, offices and subsidiaries, one such office being in Burma. UOB also has diversified interests and through its subsidiary United Overseas Land the group operates the Park Royal Yangon hotel.

United Overseas Bank Ltd.
80 Raffles Place
UOB Plaza
Singapore 048624

Utopia Tours
Utopia Tours is a travel company based in Thailand which specialises in holidays for gays and lesbians. It advertises tours to Burma in Gay and Lesbian media in the UK. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Managing Director
Utopia Tours
Door East Ltd.
119/5-10 Suriwong Road
Bangkok 10500,
THAILAND

Email: info@utopia-tours.com
V
Voyages to Asia
Voyages to Asia operates tours to Burma and other countries in Asia. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma because it helps fund the regime and gives it legitimacy. Forced and child labour was used to develop many tourist facilities.

Castle House
Castle Street
Hereford
HR1 2NW
Telephone: 0845 838 5474
Y

Yunnan Joint Power Development Company NEW
Yunnan Joint Power is a Chinese company that is involved with a hydroelectricity project in Burma that has been associated with human rights abuses. Dam projects in Burma have been associated with forced relocations, extrajudicial killings, forced labour, death by labour and torture.

No address available.

Z

Zarubezhneft
JSC Zarubezhneft is a Russian oil and gas company. In September 2006 it signed a production sharing contract for oil and gas exploration with the regime.

Nikolay Tokarev
Director Geneneral
Zarubezhneft
Building 1, 9/1/1 Armiansky pereulok
Moscow 101990
Russian Federation

Email: nestro@nestro.ru

John Pilger on the cowardice of silence

‘When I phoned Aung San Suu Kyi’s home in Rangoon yesterday, I imagined the path to her door that looks down on Inya Lake. Through ragged palms, a trip-wire is visible, a reminder that this is the prison of a woman whose party was elected by a landslide in 1990, a democratic act extinguished by men in ludicrous uniforms. Her phone rang and rang; I doubt if it is connected now. Once, in response to my “How are you?” she laughed about her piano’s need of tuning. She also spoke about lying awake, breathless, listening to the thumping of her heart.

Now her silence is complete. This week, the Burmese junta renewed her house arrest, beginning the 13th year. As far as I know, a doctor has not been allowed to visit her since January, and her house was badly damaged in the cyclone. And yet the secretary-general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, could not bring himself to utter her name on his recent, grovelling tour of Burma. It is as if her fate and that of her courageous supporters, who on Tuesday beckoned torture and worse merely by unfurling the banners of her National League for Democracy, have become an embarrassment for those who claim to represent the “international community”. Why?

Where are the voices of those in governments and their related institutions who know how to help Burma? Where are the honest brokers who once eased the oppressed away from their shadows, the true and talented peacemakers who see societies not in terms of their usefulness to “interests” but as victims of it? Where are the Dennis Hallidays and Hans von Sponecks who rose to assistant secretary-general of the UN by the sheer moral force of their international public service?

The answer is simple. They are all but extinguished by a virus called the “war on terror”. Where once men and women of good heart and good intellect and good faith stood in parliaments and world bodies in defence of the human rights of others, there is now cowardice. Think of the parliament at Westminster, which cannot even cajole itself into holding an inquiry into the criminal invasion of Iraq, let alone to condemn it and speak up for its victims. Last year, 100 eminent British doctors pleaded with the minister for international development, then Hilary Benn, for emergency medical aid to be sent to Iraqi children’s hospitals: “Babies are dying for want of a 95 pence oxygen mask,” they wrote. The minister turned them down flat.

I mention that because medical aid for children is exactly the kind of assistance the British government now insists the Burmese junta should accept without delay. “There are people suffering in Burma,” said an indignant Gordon Brown. “There are children going without food … it is utterly unacceptable that when international aid is offered, the regime will try to prevent that getting in.” David Miliband chimed in with “malign neglect”. Say that to the children of Iraq and Afghanistan and Gaza, where Britain’s role is as neglectful and malign as any. As scores of children in Shia areas of Baghdad are blown to bits by America and what the BBC calls Iraq’s “democratic government”, the British are silent, as ever. “We” say nothing while Israel torments and starves the children of Gaza, ignoring every attempt to bring a ceasefire with Hamas, all in the name of a crusade that dares not say its name. What might have been a new day for humanity in the post-cold war years, even a renewal of the spirit of the Declaration of Human Rights, of “never again” from Palestine to Burma, was cancelled by the ambitions of a sole rapacious power that has cowed all. The “war on terror” allows Australia and Israel to train Burma’s internal security thugs. It consumes both most humanitarian aid indirectly and the very internationalism capable of bringing the “clever” pressure on Burma, about which Aung San Suu Kyi once spoke.

Dismissing the idiocy of a military intervention in her country, she asked: “What about all those who trade with the generals, who give them many millions of dollars that keep them going?” She was referring to the huge oil and gas companies, Total and Chevron, which effectively hand the regime $2.7bn a year, and the Halliburton company (former chief executive Vice-President Dick Cheney) that backed the construction of the Yadana pipeline, and the British travel companies that send tourists across bridges and roads built with forced labour. Audley Travel promotes its Burma holidays in the Guardian. The BBC, in contravention of its charter, has just bought 75% of Lonely Planet travel guides, a truculent defender of “our” right to be tourists in Burma regardless of slave labour, or cyclones, or the woman beyond the trip-wire. Shame’.

[Source: The Guardian]

Burma Update

This just in from Burma Campaign:

Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention

Yesterday, the regime extended Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention again. No formal announcement was made, but reports say the detention is for at least another six months. She has now spent over 12 of the last 18 years under house arrest. Her current period of house arrest began in 2003. The regime is once again breaking its own laws by extending her detention for a total of more than five years. The State Protection Law 1975, under which she is held, only allows the regime to detain her for a maximum of five years. Around 20 members of the National League for Democracy were also arrested yesterday as they marched to her home to call for her release.

Even though UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was in Burma in the run-up to Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention expiring, he did not call on Burma’s generals to release her. In fact, he didn’t even mention her name. The international community is failing to put pressure on the regime because it is afraid it will affect aid deals. However, the current humanitarian crisis is being caused by a political problem, a dictatorship that refuses to allow aid to reach the people and Aung San Suu Kyi is key to solving that political problem.

Cylcone update …

More than three weeks after the devastating cyclone in Burma, at least 200,000 people are feared dead and 2.5 million people remain in urgent need of aid. Most people have still not received the aid they desperately need because the regime continues to deny aid workers free access to operate in the areas most severely affected by the cyclone. Following reports that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon had secured agreement from Burma’s generals for aid workers to be allowed into the country, it was hoped that things would change. However, it is now clear that the regime is not keeping its word. We continue to receive reports that aid workers are being denied visas and unable to operate freely in the worst affected areas. The US, UK and France are still being blocked from using their resources to deliver the large scale emergency and medical assistance needed.

Is Burma’s military junta diverting aid on ethnic grounds?

According to recent reports received by KHRG from residents of the Irrawaddy Delta, the SPDC has not only been restricting aid supplies and access by international humanitarian workers, but has also been doing so on the basis of ethnicity. Increasing reports on the military’s restrictions and misappropriation of aid supplies necessitate immediate international investigation, as all affected residents of the delta regardless of their ethnicity remain in urgent need humanitarian assistance. The regime’s obstructions of humanitarian aid increasingly appear to fall under the criteria of crimes against humanity. In such a case, the responsibility to protect this population falls on the international community.

The Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) has received disturbing reports from ethnic-Karen residents of the Irrawaddy Delta that the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) is blocking the distribution of aid from getting into particular areas of the delta affected by Cyclone Nargis due to the fact that they are predominantly ethnic-Karen.  The Irrawaddy delta region as a whole is estimated to be more than 60% ethnic Karen with some villages largely or entirely populated by Karen residents.  Speaking to KHRG, one Karen resident from the delta said that it is because many of the villages are predominantly ethnic Karen and were formerly “populated totally by Karen” that “the regime is not interested in aid reaching the area.”

According to another report received by KHRG, “In the rural areas the SPDC are not allowing assistance to villagers…  The authorities have set up check points along the roads on the way to Labutta, Pathein [Bassein], Myaung Mya and Bogale in order to block relief from reaching those in desperate need.”  Labutta, a predominantly ethnic-Karen town, has reportedly been decimated by Cyclone Nargis; as has Bogale, which outside of the town centre is also predominantly Karen.  Myaung Mya, like Bogale, is predominantly ethnic Karen outside the town centre and in the surrounding countryside.  Bassein, while now largely populated by non-Karen residents, was previously a majority-Karen town and the surrounding villages remain heavily populated by Karen.

The SPDC’s hostile attitude to the Karen population in the delta may be due to the regime’s perception of ethnic difference being a threat to centralised military rule.  The delta region was also the location of an unsuccessful attempt in 1991 by the Karen National Union (KNU) and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) to gain a foothold in the area.  At that time, there was heavy fighting between Karen forces and the Burma Army, especially around the town of Bogale and, as one resident explained to KHRG, the Karen community in the delta “was also the target of massive retaliatory actions by the Burma Army.“  As part of the then State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)’s retaliation against civilians, “Villages were burned, helicopter gunships strafed villages and schools, and thousands of Karen community leaders, pastors and schoolteachers were arrested, sentenced en masse and imprisoned.“[1] The event came to be known as the ‘Bogale Crisis’ and the SPDC’s distrust of the local Karen population likely still lingers.

The above statements by Karen residents living in the delta are, furthermore, supported by ongoing reports of aid restrictions and diversions in the area more generally.  Associated Press, for example, stated that

“Checkpoints manned by armed police were set up Tuesday [May 13th] on roads leading to the Irrawaddy River delta and all international aid workers and journalists were turned back by officers who took down their names and passport numbers. Drivers were interrogated… high-energy biscuits rushed in on the World Food Program’s first flights were sent to a military warehouse.”[2]

SPDC authorities also appear to be capitalising on the catastrophe by forcibly relocating affected communities out of the area.  According to a United Nations report on Tuesday, May 13th “Myanmar’s military regime is forcing cyclone survivors out of their devastated villages and into other parts of the country… There are a growing number of reports of families being forcibly displaced to non-affected townships.“[3] Forced relocation of disparate civilian communities into consolidated population centres is a widespread practice which the Burma Army employs in Karen State to enforce military control over civilian populations.  The current forced relocations in the delta may likewise be intended to serve the purpose of increasing civilian control, rather than for the benefit of the affected population.

The SPDC’s current restrictions on international access into the delta have so far limited any opportunity for a more thorough investigation into whether aid is in fact being restricted and diverted on ethnic grounds.  Regardless of whether the SPDC is using ethnicity as a criterion for allowing access to humanitarian assistance, reports of ongoing military restrictions and diversions of aid more generally continue.  International observers must be allowed to access all affected areas to ensure that aid and assistance get through to survivors of Cyclone Nargis, irrespective of ethnicity.  Unless restrictions and the misappropriation of aid supplies cease, more civilians will face the unnecessary threat of starvation, disease and death.  Furthermore, as International Crisis Group Director Gareth Evans stated on Monday,

“If what the generals are now doing, in effectively denying relief to hundreds of thousands of people at real and immediate risk of death, can itself be characterised as a crime against humanity, then the responsibility to protect principle does indeed cut in.”[4]

The responsibility to protect principle affirms that when the government of a country is unwilling or unable to protect its citizens from war crimes, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing or genocide then this responsibility falls on the international community.  In relation to crimes against humanity, the responsibility to protect principle applies to “Other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health” when committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack against a civilian population.  As the military regime continues to obstruct aid efforts, their actions increasingly appear to be “intentionally causing great suffering“.  In such a case, the responsibility to protect principle applies.  The international community must not allow Burma’s military regime to deny crucial aid to affected populations, irrespective of the grounds on which they do so.  Applying the responsibility to protect principle in this case gives added leverage in challenging the regime’s increasingly disastrous restrictions on humanitarian assistance to the affected population.

Footnotes

[1] Conditions in the Irrawaddy Delta, KHRG, August 1995.

[2] “UN warns another cyclone is forming near Myanmar,” Associated Press, May 14th 2008.

[3] “Traffickers target child survivors of Myanmar cyclone: UN,” The Straits Times, May 14th 2008.

[4] “Facing Up to Our Responsibilities,” Gareth Evans, The Guardian, May 12th 2008.

Source: KHRG

Honouring Aung San Suu Kyi

Spain Honors Suu Kyi and Dr Cynthia Maung

A leading Spanish honor has been awarded to Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Dr Cynthia Maung, who runs a clinic for Burmese refugees and migrant workers at the Thai-Burmese border. They will share the 2007 Catalonia International Prize, consisting of the sum of 100,000 euros and a sculpture. The prize is awarded annually by Spain’s regional government of Catalunya to persons judged to have decisively contributed through their creative work to the development of cultural, scientific or human values around the world. Catalunya’s prime minister, José Montilla, will present the award at a ceremony in Barcelona in November.

Suu Kyi ‘Honorary Citizen’ of Canada

The Canadian government will grant honorary citizenship to Burma’s detained dissident leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday in recognition of her long struggle for democracy, during a ceremony on parliament hill. Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier will present the honorary citizenship to Suu Kyi’s cousin, Sein Win, the Washington-based prime minister of the Burmese exile government.

Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has spent almost 12 years of the past 18 years in detention under house arrest in Burma. The honorary Canadian citizenship is a testament to Canada’s long-standing respect and admiration for Aung San Suu Kyi’s struggle for freedom and democracy in Burma. Suu Kyi will become the fourth person, and the first woman, to be granted honorary citizenship-after Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and Raoul Wallenberg.

Source: The Irrawaddy

A sombre afterword: With the catastrophes in Burma (and China), let us not forget that the only voice that Rangoon seems to listen to is that of Beijing who again seem to blocking UN Security Council action and failing to use all its influence to press the junta to open up Burma to relief efforts. Perhaps Rangoon can host the next Olympics.