The Oslo Center for Human Rights' Letter: 21 Former World Leaders Call on China to Change Position on Burma, Support Arms Embargo

***The 10 ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BURMA HERE.***

Last week, 21 world leaders issued a letter (full text HERE) to Chinese President Hu Jintao with 3 demands, including support of an international arms embargo against the ruling junta:

(1) Support the international calls for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma;

(2) Utilize fully China's unique position to facilitate/support a peaceful tri-partite dialogue, as referred to ...by the UN General Assembly; and

(3) Support Security Council agreement on a peaceful binding resolution designed to strengthen the multilaterla political efforts and impose an immediate arms embargo for Burma.

In spite of the UN Secretary General, the UN General Assembly, ASEAN, the EU, 59 former Presidents and Prime Ministers and all living Nobel Peace Laureates' support of Aung San Suu Kyi and democracy in Burma, China is surprisingly obstinate in its continued support for Burma.

Here is Archbishop Desmond Tutu's call for peace in Burma. Tutu, a Nobel Peace Laureate, is a leading support of the Olympics Boycott on the condition that China continues its backing of Burma's generals.

HERE is the press conference video of Tutu on Sept. 28, two days after the crackdown began. Same as the video embedded below:

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Today's email from US Campaign for Burma

When one reads the Olympic slogan "One World, One Dream" it may seem hypocritical to some that China would block a UN initiative to ban arms shipments to a miltary regime that only uses them on their own people. Yet, it is true.

In fact, the UN Security Council is right now working on a non-binding statement to criticize the slaughter of innocent monks and civilians in Burma, and China is even trying to "water down" the language so it is as weak as possible. Shameful. (AFP Article HERE).

We are only just beginning to fight, and China is going to be hearing from a lot more people in the very near future. As long as China refuses to do anything meaningful on Burma, we will support an Olympic boycott. (More info on the Olympics boycott HERE). As of now the Olympic games are a shameful tribute to the worst kind of behavior. Take a minute today to send an email to the Olympic organizers letting them know where you stand. We want millions of people to email them and let them know you plan to boycott the Olympics: ticketsupport@beijing2008.cn

China is greatly concerned about the possibility of a boycott -- that is why last week they called an emergency press conference in Washington, DC to defend themselves -- but at the press conference, they announced no changes in their policy on Burma. It was just a sham. (Washington Post Article HERE).

Let's take action today -- let them hear you loud and clear.

Aung Din, Jeremy Woodrum, Jennifer Quigley, and Thelma Young