Dear John

“This is a really dangerous moment for us,” a human rights activist in Burma recently told us.

They were not talking about the constant risk of arrest and torture, or the risk of airstrikes or drone attacks. They were talking about elections the Burmese military are planning in December.

The Burmese military love elections. That’s a strange thing to say about a brutal military which has ruled Burma for most of the past 60 years, but when they are in trouble, they use elections as a rebranding exercise. They promise reforms, release some political prisoners, put up retired generals as ‘civilian’ leaders, and try to persuade the international community that democracy is coming.

It’s a sham designed to buy time. An attempt to reduce domestic resistance and international pressure. This upcoming election is all about preserving military power at a time when they are fighting for their survival. It has nothing to do with democracy.

The Burmese military hope to repeat what happened after the 2010 elections:
* The military-installed regime promised to release all political prisoners but never did.
* They launched a peace process while breaking ceasefires and increasing conflict.
* They promised democracy while reserving 25% of seats in parliament for themselves, as well as key cabinet positions.
* They stepped up repression of Rohingya, leading to genocide.

The problem is, the international community went along with it.
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Based on false promises from the Burmese military, the British government led the way calling for sanctions to be suspended and even offered training to the Burmese military. With sanctions lifted, the Burmese military increased their budget by $100 million each year and went on a weapons spending spree, including buying the jets they are using to bomb homes and schools now.

Earlier this year, the BBC estimated the Burmese military only controlled just over 20% of the country. They are desperate, and their survival strategy is to hold this election, rebrand, and try to survive.

That is why activists in Burma are saying this is the most dangerous moment. That is why we are being asked to help make sure the Burmese military don’t succeed.

We need to exert maximum pressure, not just on the British government, but in Europe and elsewhere, ensuring that they not only reject the election, but also reject whatever sham process follows the election. They must not allow themselves to be fooled again.

The Burmese military have never been weaker. The election and the regime the military install afterwards is their lifeline. We need to ensure the British government cut that lifeline, rather than grabbing it and pulling the military to safety, like they did after the 2010 election.

Please donate today to help ensure we can brief as many governments as possible about what to expect after the sham election, and not to fall for another false reform process. We need to produce briefing papers, lobby MPs, provide information to journalists. We need to ensure that key decision makers hear from the people of Burma about this sham process, and how instead the British government should be stepping up sanctions and other pressure on the military.
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We can only do that with your financial support. Please make a donation today. ([link removed])

Thank you for your support.

Mark Farmaner
Director, Burma Campaign UK

PS. Last month the Burmese military dropped two 500-pound bombs on a school, killing 22 students. It’s becoming so common for the Burmese military to bomb schools it rarely even gets mentioned in the media anymore. Whether it is through bombs or ballot boxes, there is nothing the Burmese military won’t do to stay in power. We have to do everything we can to ensure they don’t.
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