Large turnout at Burmese and Chinese embassies in London
dv | 27.09.2007 18:58 | Anti-militarism | Repression | Social Struggles | London | World
Large numbers of protesters rallied outside the Burmese embassy, before marching to the Chinese embassy to demand China's support for the pro-democracy uprising in Burma.
Two hundred or so protesters, a mixture of Burmese and non-Burmese, crowded the Burmese embassy in Mayfair at lunchtime on Thursday, calling for democracy and an end to the ongoing violence and repression in Burma.
The crowd included, amongst others, many Burmese pro-democracy activists, who were in good voice, supporters from Amnesty International and Burma Campaign UK, and plenty of media and paparazzi. The rally was addressed by a number of speakers, including a representative of the repressed Karen people of the Burma-Thai border region, speakers from Amnesty and Burma Campaign, and even a Tory MP (who was heckled). All expressed solidarity with the peaceful demonstrators in Burma and called for restraint and an end to repression by the military junta. No one from the embassy dared venture out to address the crowd.
After an hour or so, around a hundred demonstrators marched to the Chinese embassy in Portland Place, via Berkeley Square and Regent Street, chanting "Free, free, Burma, Burma!", with many toots and gestures of support from passing motorists and onlookers.
There followed an hour and a half or so of chanting outside the Chinese embassy, the crowd calling out relentlessly: "China, China - don't refuse people power!", "democracy, democracy - now, now!", "let the UN do its job", "stop the killing in Burma", "stop selling weapons to Burma", "free Aung San Su Kyi - now, now", "China gains, Burma suffers", "stop supporting the Burmese / military regime" - all interspersed with Burmese national songs. Again, no spokesperson from the embassy was forthcoming.
The demonstrators will be back at the Burmese embassy at the same time (12 - 1 pm) tomorrow, and every day until democracy is restored in their home country. Please, please come and join them in solidarity - they so desperately need the support of the people of the West.
Embassy of the Union of Myanmar (Burma)
19 A CHARLES STREET (near Berkeley Square)
LONDON W1J 5DX
Nearest tube: Green Park
For campaigns in other countries, check here:
The crowd included, amongst others, many Burmese pro-democracy activists, who were in good voice, supporters from Amnesty International and Burma Campaign UK, and plenty of media and paparazzi. The rally was addressed by a number of speakers, including a representative of the repressed Karen people of the Burma-Thai border region, speakers from Amnesty and Burma Campaign, and even a Tory MP (who was heckled). All expressed solidarity with the peaceful demonstrators in Burma and called for restraint and an end to repression by the military junta. No one from the embassy dared venture out to address the crowd.
After an hour or so, around a hundred demonstrators marched to the Chinese embassy in Portland Place, via Berkeley Square and Regent Street, chanting "Free, free, Burma, Burma!", with many toots and gestures of support from passing motorists and onlookers.
There followed an hour and a half or so of chanting outside the Chinese embassy, the crowd calling out relentlessly: "China, China - don't refuse people power!", "democracy, democracy - now, now!", "let the UN do its job", "stop the killing in Burma", "stop selling weapons to Burma", "free Aung San Su Kyi - now, now", "China gains, Burma suffers", "stop supporting the Burmese / military regime" - all interspersed with Burmese national songs. Again, no spokesperson from the embassy was forthcoming.
The demonstrators will be back at the Burmese embassy at the same time (12 - 1 pm) tomorrow, and every day until democracy is restored in their home country. Please, please come and join them in solidarity - they so desperately need the support of the people of the West.
Embassy of the Union of Myanmar (Burma)
19 A CHARLES STREET (near Berkeley Square)
LONDON W1J 5DX
Nearest tube: Green Park
For campaigns in other countries, check here:
dv
Additions
Video of the demonstration
27.09.2007 22:13
Watch video of the demonstration on 
http://www.amnesty.org/ .
http://www.amnesty.org/ .
Donnacha DeLong
Photos from the embassy protest today
28.09.2007 16:00
Geoff Sheridan
Homepage:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=57114&l=7de7a&id=550100556
Comments
Hide the following 5 comments
democracy my arse
27.09.2007 21:46
Not to mention the propping up of military juntas in Iraq , Afghanistan , Pakistan.
I can smell the money and the hypocracy above the pathetic media frenzy
daggle
One day the troops and commanders in Burma Myanmar will have to face War Crime.
28.09.2007 16:57
When a soldier beats a monk or another human being, in an act of brutality as shown by the news, bloggers and very brave photo smugglers in Burma Myanmar they are shown on the internet which maybe is not visible to the population of Burma or Myanmar but with such a large audiance as the whole world with an internet connection, do you really think any of us are not shocked, disgusted, outraged and if we where in your country we would gladly join the PEACEFUL PROTEST... thats right. Since when did you hear even a joke about the Burma or Myanmar Monk murdering another human, beating them to death, torturing them but they have had to suffer in silenc and who is to say that the beatings stopped 19 years ago, they may still have continued and that is why it is so easy for the millitary not to feel ashamed and murderous.
Many people around the world look to you Burma Myanmar and many people around the world will look to the day that these crimes are brought to the court of human rights where upon the offenders will receive at least long custodial sentences when the death penalty is not possible.
POWER to the Monks and Brave People of the worth fighting for new Democratic Burma or Myanmar.
God bless you all, Michelle in Amsterdam.
Michelle Jayne Lankamp from Amsterdam, Nederland
e-mail:
michelle@viviendoenelparaiso.com
Homepage:
http://www.viviendoenelparaiso.com
er daggle...
28.09.2007 18:58
DJ
exactly my point
29.09.2007 15:11
Burma has had this type of rule for lots of years.
Open your eyes dude and think , why now , and why Burma?
Seems you've fell for it hook , line and sinker.
If you really think that my country the UK gives a shit about democracy , then well ......
daggle
not really the case
30.09.2007 19:44
If the UK wanted the oil and natural gas they would just have to ignore the sanctions. And they would get it a lot cheaper than in a democracy where they would have to compete for contracts against all the other countries who would also be wanting to buy the oil, since there would be no sanctions.
Why do you think China's so happy with the situation? It's only real competitor is India.
You're far too cynical - yes, Western governments and all governments are hypocritical. But there is also an element of humanity and respect for human rights, which governments, lest their electors, can't ignore.
In the case of Burma, its government is illegitimate, and it has mismanaged the economy to the extent that the Burmese people are on the streets risking their lives. The military has responded with violence and brutality. It would be hypocritical for Western governments to ignore it.
Peter