Sir, More than 11,000 people have been forced to flee their villages in Karen state, Burma, in the past few weeks alone. Civilians have been chased by the Burma Army, shot at point-blank range, tortured and beheaded. A nine-year-old girl was shot after seeing her father and grandmother killed. Those who have survived are trapped in the jungle without food, medicine or shelter. A few brave relief teams have been able to reach them with some basic aid, but much more is needed.
In total since 1996 more than 2,800 villages have been destroyed or forcibly relocated at gunpoint in eastern Burma alone. More than a million people are displaced. Some other governments are providing humanitarian aid, through relief teams based in Thailand. The Department for International Development (DFID) says it wants its aid to be directed at the most vulnerable people. There is no one more vulnerable in Burma today than the displaced people hiding in the jungles. DFID should consult with other governments, and find a way to fund relief teams carrying out life-saving work in the conflict zones of Burma.
VERA BAIRD MP
JOHN BERCOW MP
Co-Chairs, All-Party Parliamentary
Group for Democracy in Burma
YVETTE MAHON
Director, Burma Campaign UK
MERVYN THOMAS
Chief Executive, Christian
Solidarity Worldwide