Actions | Stop Genocide

Tell Congress: Call for a Commission of Inquiry for Burma

It is time for the international community to take the next step in pursuing peace, freedom, and human rights in Burma.

Email your member of the House of Representatives TODAY and ask him or her to sign on to a "dear colleague" letter to President Obama that urges the President to support a U.N. Security Council commission of inquiry into crimes against humanity being committed in Burma.

This commission of inquiry would be the first step in securing a referral of Burma to the International Criminal Court. Since U.S. Campaign for Burma's founding, we have reported on the junta's use of rape as a weapon of war, forced labor, and torture, as well as its destruction of over 3,300 ethnic minority villages. These actions are not only morally reprehensible, they are crimes against humanity and war crimes, illegal under international law.

The International Criminal Court seeks to bring to justice perpetrators who commit such crimes, such as Burma's Senior General Than Shwe. It is time for the court to investigate the case of Burma's war crimes and end the impunity for the military regime.

Last week, 60 members of the British Parliament signed a letter that "urges [the U.K.], along with other governments, to propose the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma...."

A similar letter is being circulated in the U.S. House of Representatives now and we are calling on you to email your member of the House of Representives and ask him or her to sign on to this letter to President Obama. The letter is being circulated by Congressman Crowley (D) and Congressman Mazullo (R). Constituent pressure is often what compels Congressmen and Congresswomen to sign on to letters such as this. Your voice is powerful. Tell your representative that Burma is important to you and that you believe a commission of inquiry is absolutely necessary.

Click here to email your representative today.

You can find out more about crimes against humanity in Burma and the International Criminal Court here. A copy of the letter that is currently circulating in the House can be found here.

Thank you for taking action on behalf of the people of Burma.

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1189/t/5102/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=931

This is a one-time pledge that can be fulfilled any time.

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Comments, Suggestions and Stories

Brian Muse Brugge, Belgium @ 03:12PM PT Jul 18

The EU has extended sanctions against Burma and renewed calls for the release of political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Ky who has been in detention for most of the past 19 years. The EU could better be involved in this as well.

The current sanctions against Burma include a travel ban on the country's top officials, an arms embargo and a freeze of Burmese assets in Europe. They were stepped up in 2007, after a crackdown by the Burmese government on protests by Buddhist monks, to include a ban on exports of timber, metals and precious stones.

What has changed?
r s holmen, WI @ 12:27PM PT May 13
Pledge fulfilled May 13!

Thank You for Emailing Your Representative - Now Tell a Friend to Take Action Please help to make this campaign a success by getting more people involved. Pass this email along, and ask friends to support a commission of inquiry for Burma. Just add your friends' email addresses into the space below, click the box that says "email." Then fill in the words that appear in the box and press send.
Alan Haggard San Diego, CA @ 08:26PM PT May 12

Initiated this Pledge!