Karen Delegation Visits UK Parliament

Media Release from Karen Community Association – UK

For Immediate Release Tuesday 19th May 2009

Karen Delegation Visits UK Parliament

A delegation of 20 Karen living in the UK will visit the British Parliament today to learn more about how the British Parliamentary system works. The tour of Parliament, which was organised by the Karen Community Association UK with the help of Burma Campaign UK, will include meeting with Alan Beith MP. “This is a great opportunity for us to learn about how democratic systems work, and also for us to learn how to lobby MPs more effectively,” said Nant Bwa Bwa Phan, Vice Chairperson of the Karen Community Association. “We will also take the opportunity to ask for stronger pressure for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners, and the immediate withdrawal of Burmese army troops in Karen States, which are engaged in horrific human rights abuses against the Karen civilians.”

 Following the tour of Parliament the delegation will visit the British Foreign Office to call for international action on the situation in Eastern Burma. Delegates will hand in personal testimonies on the human rights abuses they have suffered during attacks by the Burmese Army. The United Nations has accused the dictatorship of breaking the Geneva Conventions by deliberately targeting ethnic civilians in Eastern Burma.

The Karen Community Association represents the Karen Community in the UK. It assists the community with problems they face coming to live in the UK, raises awareness about the situation in Burma, raises money to help refugees and internally displaced people, and campaigns for action by the international community.

For more information contact Htoo Ku Hsar Say on 07940522425 or Nant Bwa Bwa Phan on 07739872481.