In 1988 the Burmese people rose up in protest against the oppression and absolute poverty imposed by the military dictatorship since 1962. Starting with the students and progressing through all echelons of society from dock workers to doctors, lawyers and Buddhist monks the country took to the streets demanding democracy. The military responded by firing on the crowds of protesters, beating both adults and children to death even rampaging through hospitals, shooting patients and staff, killing around 10,000 people during the year.

In response to this brutal suppression, nonviolent activist Aung San Suu Kyi called for an end to human rights abuses and formed the National League for Democracy. She was subsequently placed under house arrest for 6 years, was denied visitation rights to her family in England and at one point was out of contact with them for over 2 years.

Due to international pressure elections were held in 1990 in which the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 81% of the seats, however the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) refused to recognise this and imprisoned many of the NLD party members and their supporters. Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 and was eventually released from house arrest in 1995. However, her movements are still restricted by the military and SLORC continues to refuse a dialogue with her.

Although the country's name has since been changed to Myanmar, little has changed for the Burmese people. Amnesty International has reported that torture is commonplace in Burmese prisons, where people can be sentenced for 7 years for singing a freedom song and up to 20 years for expressing pro-democracy views. Slavery and child labour are enforced by the military regime, with rural communities and political prisoners, often with iron manacles around their feet, being forced at gunpoint to build new roads and luxury accommodation for tourists. Many die from exhaustion or are shot for trying to escape. The health and education budget has been cut by 80% and each year up to 10,000 young girls are sold into prostitution in Thailand.

Why the Pepsi Boycott?

Suu Kyi has especially asked for multinational companies to withdraw from Burma as she says, “Companies such as … Pepsi … prolong the agony of my country.” The selling of Pepsi though a local franchise holder in Burma gives both money and credibility to the dictatorship and falsely leads tourists into believing that it is a state of normality … rather than of terror. Since Suu Kyi is the democratically elected leader of this country we have a moral duty to respect and adhere to her calls for an end to this regime of brutality and fear. We can do this by putting consumer pressure on PepsiCo to withdraw from Burma.

So why does it affect us?

As Christians we have a duty to help those who are suffering. Jesus instructs us in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25 v 31–46) that when Judgement Day comes each will be judged according to his deeds and they will say, Lord when we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and not help you?" and he will reply,"When you refused to help the least of these my brothers, you were refusing to help me. It seems to me almost selfish to show compassion to others purely because it is a way of ensuring our place in heaven, but I still think there is an important lesson to be learned from this parable. I believe Jesus told us this because he knew all to well that otherwise we would become far too wrapped up in our own situations and immediate circle and so would forget the importance of showing compassion and giving service to all those in need. By likening all those who suffer to himself, he enables us to relate to them and to be moved with compassion for them.

Once again we are drawn back to the Sunday school-essential parable of the Good Samaritan ( Luke 10: 25–37), where Jesus clearly instructs us to love our neighbours as ourselves — but that's quite a hard thing to do when Burma is thousands of miles away. However in rereading this parable I was struck by the Jesus' words of how the Samaritan felt deep pity (v. 33 Living Bible) when he saw the dying man on the roadside and this deep-felt compassion spurred him into action. Jesus commands us to go do the same in v. 37. Until I watched John Pilger's video documentary about the situation in Burma I was merely ‘concerned' about it — however after watching it I was moved and felt great pity for the people there, and also anger that this was allowed to happen almost unnoticed by the west … I was then spurred to do something about it and I strongly urge you to do the same.

Week 4 is Burma Week in which Third World First has organised many events so you can learn more about the situation in Burma and what you can do to help those suffering there.

Week 3

Thursday 30th Jan. 12–2 Vanbrugh stalls — a chance to sign the Pepsi Boycott and to write letters to MPs and MEPs calling for economic sanctions against Burma

Friday 31st Jan 12–2 Vanbrugh Stalls as above

Week 4

Sunday 2nd Feb 7–9 ‘Beyond Rangoon’ video in Derwent

Monday 3rd Feb. 12–2 Vanbrugh Stalls Information about Burma, Pepsi Boycott and writing letters to MPs and MEPs

Tuesday 4th Feb. 12–2 Vanbrugh Stalls as above
Candle Vigil 7:30–9 Vanbrugh Paradise

Wed. 5th Feb. 12–2 Vanbrugh Stalls as above
7:30–9:00 Speaker: Oung Myint Tun — an exiled member of the NLD plus the first showing outside London of a secret interview with Aung San Suu Kyi by Glenys Kinnock MEP in Central Hall

Thursday 6th Feb. 7–9pm ‘Burma Land of Fear’ a covertly filmed documentary by John Pilger

What you can do

1. Pray for Burma — for those in prison, in slave labour, refugees, exiles, those who do not know if their loved ones are alive and for those working for democracy, especially Aung San Suu Kyi and pray that there will be a peaceful end to the struggle
2. Pray that as a campus we will be motivated to help those who are oppressed not just in Burma, but around the world.
3. Get involved with Burma action week
4. Sign and act on the Pepsi Boycott
5. Write to your MP (tel 0171 219 300 for addresses) and to the Foreign Secretary asking for Britain and the EU to impose sanctions banning investment and trade with Burma.( Foreign Office, King Charles Street, London SWIA 2AH)
6. Join Third World First. Meetings every Wednesday 7:30–8:30 Langwith D101 or contact Rowan Hampton, Langwith (rch104) or Steve Rice, Derwent (sjcr100) for more information

Please come and learn the facts, get involved and live out the compassion that Jesus calls us to.

Happy are those who long for justice for they shall surely receive it.

Matthew 5 v 6

Stop Press

Just in from Rowan: “It's wonderful news, tell all your readers, Pepsi have just pulled out of Burma!”