Posts
Published Date:
04 October 2007
By Amy Burns
A MOVING speech by a Burmese refugee sparked a standing ovation during a meeting of Sheffield Council - and helped convince every councillor to vote in favour of the same motion.
The woman, a representative from the Karen Community Association, addressed the full council after handing them a petition signed by 95 people.
The petition was signed in support of the people of Burma who have been subjected to violence followingADVERTISEMENT weeks of peaceful protest against military rule.
Sheffield is one of two 'host countries' who welcomed Burmese refugees under the United Nations Gateway programme and as a result is home to one of the largest groups of Burmese exiles in the UK.
The spokesman for the Karen Community Association - Karen is an ethnic group - said the petition had been put together to highlight the problems in Burma and asked the council to show their support by recognising the atrocities.
