Thousands To Take To The Streets Globally To Call For Humanitarian Assistance To Burma

May 14, 2008 - PRLog -- Thousands of people are expected to attend global protests & vigils to call for humanitarian intervention in Burma on Saturday May 17th.

Such is the anger felt by people around the world at the Burmese Generals’ refusal to allow vital aid and relief workers into the country to save lives that events have been orchestrated in less than a week and are due to happen in places as far afield as the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, Chile and the Czech Republic with further places continuing to be added.  

The Burma Global Action Network, Burma Campaign UK, U.S. Campaign for Burma and other organizations are leading the call for the world governments and the United Nations to intervene in the humanitarian crisis by supplying aid to the 1.7 million people affected by cyclone Nargis.

The Burmese regime has consistently blocked the international community from providing food, water and medical supplies to the worst affected regions. Hundreds of thousands of people are at risk of death through starvation, dehydration and preventable diseases such as cholera, malaria and diarrhea.

Says Jason Slack, one of the event co-ordinators “We saw how appallingly the junta reacted to the situation, not allowing in anything like the amount of international aid and assistance needed, not postponing the referendum, we've felt the need to use people power to campaign for that aid to be provided by whatever it takes, because every day that this goes on without the people getting proper help, more lives are lost, making the situation into a double tragedy.”

It’s also anticipated that the events give an opportunity for overseas Burmese citizens to express themselves. One Burmese refugee aid worker explained that "Global protest is a great idea.  Knowing that the world is with them means a lot."  Activist on the Burma/Thailand border in the National League of Democracy (Liberated Area) with networks inside Burma stated “This is great news! We have actually been looking for ways to show that the outside world cares.  This is a big boost for moral and it really, really does make a difference.”

ENDS (293 words)

Full list of individual events here:
http://www.burma-network.org/index.php?option=com_content...

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=4733&uid=29161426416

http://www.burma-network.org
If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with a BGAN’s representative please call Alex Bookbinder at +1(778) 847-5104  Or  Sophie Lwin at +1(623) 703-0110 or email at info@burma-network.org