Film screening: This Prison Where I Live
FCO
05 Sep 2011
Tickets are limited and there will be a maximum of 2 tickets per person.
Please RSVP on this page to show your support but to confirm your attendance you will also need to email: SEAPG.Enquiries@fco.gov.uk with your name and your guest's name. You will then receive a confirmation of your place which you will need to print out and bring with you.
If you do not bring the confirmation print-out we can't guarantee entrance!
The screening of ‘This Prison Where I Live’ is in conjunction with Rex Entertainment at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Thursday, 15th September. Director Rex Bloomstein will take part in a Q&A session following the screening.
The FCO has helped to organise screenings of ‘This Prison Where Live’ all over the world and we are now pleased to give our Facebook members the chance to see it here.
‘This Prison Where I Live’ tells the story of the political prisoner Zarganar, a fierce critic of the regime and Burma’s most popular comedian. Containing secret footage of Zarganar filmed in 2007, it is an insight into the experiences of an extraordinary man and the journey made by Bloomstein and German comedian Michael Mittermeier in their attempt to share his story with the world.
This film simultaneously explores the scale of oppression in Burma and the resilience of those who struggle against it. The comparison between two comedians from two different countries reveals the importance of democracy and freedom of speech.
“The movie is an introduction to a remarkable man who needs the support of the world against his vindictive oppressors” – The Observer
Thank you for your continuing support. We look forward to seeing you at the screening.
Details
The screening will take place on 15th September. Refreshments will be served from 6.00pm before an introduction to the film at 6.30pm. Please arrive at the main reception by 6:15 to be escorted to the screening.
Nearest Tube Station: Westminster
http://ping.fm/xBQvM
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
A leaked U.S. diplomatic cable says Burma shipped thousands of tons of rice to North Korea in exchange for arms.
The cable was sent in July 2009 from the U.S. embassy in Rangoon and just released by the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. It says Burma shipped about 20,000 tons of rice to North Korea through the first six months of that year in exchange for conventional arms.
The cable also quotes a well-placed business source saying the shipments had gone on for more than five years. North Korea suffers from chronic food shortages but has a sophisticated arms industry.
U.S. officials have long suspected North Korea may also be helping Burma to develop a nuclear weapons capability, though Burma denies it.
Burma's long-ruling military junta stepped down at the end of March, turning over power to a new government that was chosen in tainted elections late last year. The new administration, led mainly by retired generals, has taken modest steps to open talks with some of its critics.
http://ping.fm/M8q1s
The cable was sent in July 2009 from the U.S. embassy in Rangoon and just released by the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. It says Burma shipped about 20,000 tons of rice to North Korea through the first six months of that year in exchange for conventional arms.
The cable also quotes a well-placed business source saying the shipments had gone on for more than five years. North Korea suffers from chronic food shortages but has a sophisticated arms industry.
U.S. officials have long suspected North Korea may also be helping Burma to develop a nuclear weapons capability, though Burma denies it.
Burma's long-ruling military junta stepped down at the end of March, turning over power to a new government that was chosen in tainted elections late last year. The new administration, led mainly by retired generals, has taken modest steps to open talks with some of its critics.
http://ping.fm/M8q1s
DICTATOR WATCH
(www.dictatorwatch.org)
Contact: Roland Watson, roland@dictatorwatch.org
REPORT ON BURMA ARMY USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS
September 5, 2011
Please forward.
http://ping.fm/yoqIy
We have posted a report prepared by a Shan activist, Hkun Hom, based on
information provided by the Shan State Army - North. The report describes
an attack by the Burma Army against the SSA on June 3, 2011, using what
are believed to be chemical weapons. If true, this is a war crime by
Burma’s military regime.
On June 3rd, the Burma Army launched a major attack against the SSA’s
Wanhai headquarters. The attack began with an extended artillery assault,
after which BA troops engaged in a battle with the SSA. Even though the
SSA troops were far outnumbered, the BA suffered some twenty killed in
action casualties.
Following the battle the BA removed their dead and wounded. They then
fired a short volley of mortars, four shells in total. These landed some
eighty meters from an SSA outpost. The mortars released an unusual smoke,
which drifted with the prevailing winds over the outpost. Of the SSA
soldiers located there, one died and the others suffered immediate and
debilitating health problems. They were ultimately evacuated to a hospital
in Thailand for treatment. Their blood tests revealed a number of
abnormalities, consistent across all the soldiers, but the Thai doctors
were not informed that they were the victims of a suspected chemical
weapons attack.
The SSA are calling for doctors who are proficient in this type of
medicine to review the results. They are willing to cooperate with
additional investigation.
Other gas attacks have been reported in previous years, as well as the
delivery of chemical weapon mortar shells to the Burma Army from North
Korea. The International Community should take these allegations
seriously, and act decisively to ensure that such attacks are not
repeated.
One possible explanation for the attack is obvious. The Burma Army
suffered great losses in the Wanhai battle. Their local commander decided
to retaliate. The gas mortars were purposely launched so that they would
land upwind from the SSA position, and the gas would drift over it.
(www.dictatorwatch.org)
Contact: Roland Watson, roland@dictatorwatch.org
REPORT ON BURMA ARMY USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS
September 5, 2011
Please forward.
http://ping.fm/yoqIy
We have posted a report prepared by a Shan activist, Hkun Hom, based on
information provided by the Shan State Army - North. The report describes
an attack by the Burma Army against the SSA on June 3, 2011, using what
are believed to be chemical weapons. If true, this is a war crime by
Burma’s military regime.
On June 3rd, the Burma Army launched a major attack against the SSA’s
Wanhai headquarters. The attack began with an extended artillery assault,
after which BA troops engaged in a battle with the SSA. Even though the
SSA troops were far outnumbered, the BA suffered some twenty killed in
action casualties.
Following the battle the BA removed their dead and wounded. They then
fired a short volley of mortars, four shells in total. These landed some
eighty meters from an SSA outpost. The mortars released an unusual smoke,
which drifted with the prevailing winds over the outpost. Of the SSA
soldiers located there, one died and the others suffered immediate and
debilitating health problems. They were ultimately evacuated to a hospital
in Thailand for treatment. Their blood tests revealed a number of
abnormalities, consistent across all the soldiers, but the Thai doctors
were not informed that they were the victims of a suspected chemical
weapons attack.
The SSA are calling for doctors who are proficient in this type of
medicine to review the results. They are willing to cooperate with
additional investigation.
Other gas attacks have been reported in previous years, as well as the
delivery of chemical weapon mortar shells to the Burma Army from North
Korea. The International Community should take these allegations
seriously, and act decisively to ensure that such attacks are not
repeated.
One possible explanation for the attack is obvious. The Burma Army
suffered great losses in the Wanhai battle. Their local commander decided
to retaliate. The gas mortars were purposely launched so that they would
land upwind from the SSA position, and the gas would drift over it.
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