Print this pageBURMA FUND-RAISER ON 17TH MAY
On 17th May, Northumberland Local govt. branch, together with our two sister branches (Northumberland Tyne &Wear Health and North of Tyne Primary Care) which are twinned with a Burmese trade union federation, the FTUK (Federation of Trade Unions Kawthooli), arranged an evening of music and poetry in support of their Burmese trade union comrades at a city centre pub in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
At the packed event, which succeeded in raising over £500 for the FTUK through ticket sales and donations , the audience were treated to rousing and uplifting performances from radical punk poet Atilla the Stockbroker and from Canadian singer-songwriter and political activist, David Rovics (fresh from a performance the previous day at the Trafalgar Square rally in support of the Palestinians).
The highlight of the evening though was the powerful presentation by Nang Seng, a young Burmese woman working with the Burma Campaign UK in London, who spoke eloquently and movingly of the appalling human rights abuse being perpetrated by the military regime in Burma and of what we as trade unionists can do to support those struggling to bring social justice and democracy to her country. Her presentation and call for solidarity was given additional urgency by the news of the imprisonment in the notorious Insein Prison of Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy.
Trade unionists in Burma are at the forefront of resistance against a brutal and repressive regime : to be a trade unionist there is to risk imprisonment, torture and even death and there is much that we as trade unionists can do at branch level to provide practical solidarity with their struggle, with twinning being a particularly effective measure. In Northern Region, we are committed to further developing the twinning arrangement with the FTUK and to continuing to raise awareness of the need to support our Burmese trade union comrades.
For further information, please contact
Mick Bowman (Northumberland Local Government Branch) mick.namhoi@yahoo.co.uk
Nang Seng in traditional dress (with the flag of the National League for Democracy - in bacground
(from left to right) : Atila the Stockbroker, Tony Pierre(International Officer, Northumberland Tyne & Wear Health branch), Internation Officer Mick Bowman, Nang Seng, Chris Easton (Secretary, North of Tyne Primary Care Health branch), David Rocics.
David and Atilla
The audience for the event at The Bridge Hotel, Newcastle Upon Tyne
