Objectives
The Burma Campaign UK aims to achieve the restoration of human rights and democracy in Burma through;

	the discouragement of trade, investment and tourism (including pressure for sanctions)
	the raising of public awareness of issues relating to Burma
	international pressure on the UK government, on the European Union (EU), the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations (UN).

 

Activities

	Direct lobbying of the UK government and EU
	Campaigning
	Public education
	Lobbying businesses
	Research

 

Campaigns
Foreign investment in Burma has supplied this regime with billions of pounds, helping the regime to expand the army and maintain power. Our campaign aims to cut this economic lifeline by increasing pressure on companies to withdraw from Burma, lobbying governments to increase political pressure on the regime and raising public awareness of the issues relating to Burma. Our current campaigns are:

	United Nations Security Council A report published by Vaclav Havel and Desmond Tutu in September 2005 found that Burma fits the criteria for United Nations Security Council (UNSC) intervention. It calls on UNSC members to pass a resolution requiring the regime to work with the United Nations in restoring democracy to Burma, and to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all prisoners of conscience. BCUK is campaigning for the UNSC to pass such a resolution.
	TOTAL Oil - French oil giant TOTAL Oil is in business with Burma's brutal military dictatorship. Its joint venture in the Yadana gas project in southern Burma earns the military regime hundreds of millions of dollars every year. This major new campaign - supported by 41 organisations in 18 countries - has been launched to get TOTAL Oil out of Burma.
	Economic Sanctions - Whilst in opposition the Labour Party voiced support for investment sanctions against Burma. However, in government they reversed this position, and refused to implement such sanctions. We are calling on the UK Government to legislate new powers that will enable it to impose unilateral financial sanctions against Burma and for the UK Government to press other EU member states to impose similar sanctions.
	Tourism - Tourism is a vital source of income for the regime. Our tourism campaign educates people about reasons not to visit Burma, lobbies companies to stop operating there, and lobbies publishers not to produce guides that encourage people to visit the country. The campaign includes a boycott of Lonely Planet publications. Lonely Planet publishes a guide that promotes tourism to Burma and vigorously defends tourism to Burma in the media.
	Clothing - The clothing industry is becoming an increasingly important foreign currency earner for the regime in Burma. We aim to persuade clothing manufacturers and retailers to withdraw from production and sourcing of clothing in Burma and to discourage potential new garment manufacturers from going in.

 

Achievements
The Burma Campaign UK was established in 1991. Since then, BCUK has built a solid and credible reputation as a source of reliable information and a powerful campaigning and lobbying body. Here are just some of our recent achievements.

BCUK ...

	forced British American Tobacco, the UK's largest investor in Burma, to withdraw from Burma, and WPP, the world's second largest advertising firm, to pull out of Burma.
	launched a joint campaign with MTV for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. So far, over 100,000 emails have been sent to UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, calling for Aung San Suu Kyi's release.
	published a report revealing that our clothing campaign has helped persuade almost 150 top clothing brands not to source from Burma.
	won the OneWorld media award for Best Campaign in 2003
	directors met and interviewed Aung San Suu Kyi in June 2002 after her release from house arrest.
	launched a high profile boycott of Triumph International because of their operations in Burma. Within the first week of the campaign the Norwegian Winter Olympic team cancelled its sponsorship deal with Triumph. Within two months Triumph bowed to pressure from the campaign and pulled out of Burma.
	took the Labour Government to court in December 1999 over their claim that sanctions against the regime in Burma would be illegal. BCUK succeeded in clarifying that there are no legal barriers to the imposition of sanctions on British investments in Burma.
	has persuaded a growing number of tour operators to withdraw from Burma. The tour operator ‘Intrepid’ pulled out of Burma announcing "there are issues in life that go to the very core of what is right and what is not...it is an inescapable fact that human rights abuses are directly linked with tourism in Burma".
	successfully lobbied the UK and the EU to take an unprecedented stand on tourism to Burma. Both now promote the view that tourism to Burma is inappropriate under the current regime.
	persuaded the ITV travel show 'Wish You Were Here?’ which has an audience of 8 million, to withdraw a planned feature on Burma.
	organised a celebrity event at the Royal Court theatre to celebrate Aung San Suu Kyi’s Birthday in 2002. Stars included Fran Healy from Travis, Jamie Catto and 1Giant Leap, Maxi Jazz from Faithless, Horace Andy from Massive Attack, John Hegley and Maureen Lipmann.
	has been directly responsible for the withdrawal from Burma of a significant number of British and international companies including Premier Oil, British Home Stores, Diesel, The Burton Group and River Island.

	Commendations for The Burma Campaign UK
	“Thank you for all that you have done to help the cause of democracy in Burma.” Aung San Suu Kyi
	“The Burma Campaign UK has played a key role in pushing Burma further up both the government and the media agenda.” Jon Snow, Journalist, Channel 4 News
	“Hats off to the Burma Campaign for their strenuous efforts...” The Guardian
	“The Burma Campaign UK is the world’s leading organisation dedicated to campaigning for freedom and democracy in Burma.” Glenys Kinnock MEP
	“We can see your strength and your strong determination. We really appreciate your work.” Federation of Trade Unions – Burma
	“I can say with confidence that the Burma Campaign UK is a powerful advocate for Burma’s pro-democracy movement in Europe. I urge you to support them in every way possible.” Dr Sein Win – Prime Minister, exiled National Coalition Government of Burma
	“The Burma Campaign UK is a leading human rights pressure group.” Financial Times
	“UNISON supports The Burma Campaign UK which has been very successful in its campaigns for the withdrawal of leading retail companies from Burma, Diesel and Triumph among them. Continued support for the Burma Campaign UK is of paramount importance now. International pressure - a major factor in bringing the generals to negotiate - must not be eased.” UNISON – the UK’s largest trade union
	“The report of the Burma Campaign UK on sanctions is a masterpiece and it helps all of us to refute allegations from unfriendly quarters.’’ San Wansai - General Secretary of Shan Democratic Union

Our Patrons
Sinead Cusack, Clive James, Miriam Karlin OBE, Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, Glenys Kinnock MEP, Maureen Lipman, Sue Lloyd-Roberts, Roger Lyons, Sir John Mortimer and Lord Steel

Join the world's biggest email network for campaigning on Burma and receive the latest updates and actions from the Burma Campaign UK automatically. Click here