Sir, - You published a letter on October 16th about an Englishman, James Mawdsley, who was imprisoned in Burma for protesting against the genocide of the Karen ethnic minorities by the military dictatorship there, the State Law and Order Council (SLORC). It was indeed good news to see on Sky News during the week that he has been released. While in prison, he was held in solitary confinement and tortured.
While we all admire the courage and integrity of this young man, we should also remember that there are still up to 2,000 Burmese people being denied their basic human rights by being tortured and kept in prison. They have not committed any crimes, nor engaged in violence. Their continuing detention is a violation of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Aung San Suu Kyi, who was awarded the Freedom of Dublin in March, has called on world leaders to ban all trade with the illegal regime. Investments in Burma serve only to line the pockets of the military and do not help the ordinary people.
French companies are among the biggest investors in Burma, especially Total Oil. In partnership with SLORC, and without any consultation with local people, it has pushed through a $1.2 billion pipeline project. This has resulted in local residents suffering serious human rights abuses, and thousands have been constricted as forced labourers on infrastructure projects.
I would like to encourage your readers to call on the French president and the French Ambassador to Ireland to take measures to end this trade with Burma, which is doing such damage to its people and environment. - Yours, etc.,
Kathleen Forde, Secretary, Burma Action-Ireland, PO Box 6786, Blackrock, Dublin 14.