Asking Sarkozy to kick Total Out of Burma at Arsenal Summit

From Indymedia:

At the Anglo-French summit held at Arsenal Emirates Football Stadium on Thursday 27th April, protesters asked French President Sarkozy to kick French Total Oil out of Burma. President Sarkozy has previously told Total not to make further investment in Burma, but Total currently funds the brutal military regime with over 500 million dollars a year. In December it upgraded its offshore gas platform whilst asking its corrupt military partners for a maritime exclusion zone around the platform.

The protesters from www.totaloutofburma.org displayed "Totalitarian Oil Out of Burma" banners from the railings of the stadium and also on the famous cannons in front of the Armoury entrance of the stadium. The evil military regime's purchase of weapons for its army in a war against its own people, has been largely dependent on Total's funding as the major source of foreign currency for overseas arms purchases. This week the British Government backed calls for a UN Arms embargo on Burma.

The police wanted us to keep our distance from barriers at the entrance to the underground car park near the Armoury and were concerned we might throw objects or charge into the road. However they were quite reasonable not stopping us from displaying banners on the cannons or stadium and did not block the view of our banners when we held them for the passing diplomatic vehicle escorts.

Whilst we were not allowed to stand on the roundabout in front of the cannons, we were able to stand by the road without barriers, for the exit of the diplomatic vehicles. The French and British really do drive on different sides of the road, as Sarkozy's car and his police escort crossed onto the right side of the road probably to keep their distance from us. Gordon Brown's escort stayed on the left and drove past us properly round the roundabout.

Despite his escort crossing to the right side of the road, we did manage to see President Sarkozy looking at us before he turned away.

In the BBC news article "Brown seeks 'Entente Formidable'" Burma did get a mention in a 36-page joint communique of the summit. It was in the second item the BBC listed from this communique.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7315649.stm

"Promoting peace in Darfur and pushing for greater human rights in Burma"

Full Story with more pictures

Kilburn Protest

We also protested at Kilburn Total petrol station on Wednesday 26th April. We were pleased to meet one French passer-by who had a very low opinion of Total and asked for lots of leaflets to send to all his friends.

Next week we can't resist moving our regular Total petrol station protest to 1st April as Rising Tide ( http://www.risingtide.org.uk ) have designated it Fossil Fools Day ( http://www.fossilfoolsday.org ) in protest at fossil fuel caused climate change. So we'll be having our own Totalitarian Fossil Fools Day in support of Fossil Fools Day and against Totalitarian Oil in Burma.

News from Burma Campaign

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/pm/weblog.php?id=P338

UK Government Backs UN Arms Embargo on Burma
27 Mar 2008

The Burma Campaign UK today welcomed British government support for a United Nations arms embargo against Burma.

Speaking on Tuesday in the British Parliament during a debate on foreign policy, Foreign Office Minister Meg Munn stated: “We are concerned about the lack of progress (in Burma) and, indeed, in some respects, matters have gone backwards. We would certainly consider pushing for the issue to be discussed further at the UN, and we would support a UN call for an arms embargo.”



Protests in London Next Week

Tuesday 1st April - Totalitarian Fossil Fools Day

5.00pm - 7.00pm
Protest at Total petrol station, Dorset House, 170-172 Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5AR.
Nearest tube: Baker Street. Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2sz7co


Wednesday 2nd April

Meet at Burma Embassy for normal daily Burmese protest
12:00-1pm
Myanmar/Burma Embassy 19A, Charles St, London W1J 5DX.
Tube: Green Park | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2vnnbh

Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
1.30pm-3:00pm
Tube: Oxford Circus | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2tylug

Asking Wallace Art Collection not to whitewash Totalitarian Oil

Wallace Collection entrance

3rd Protest at French Film Festival

From Indymedia:

Four activists held a demonstration outside the Wallace Collection art gallery at Hertford House, Manchester Square, London on Wednesday 19th March. The Art Gallery is currently considering a sponsorship deal with Total so the activists were asking them not to accept sponsorship from the largest western sponsor of the brutal Burma junta. A boycott is not yet called for as it is hoped the gallery will do the right thing and not become associated by Total with oppression in Burma.

Banners were displayed at the entrance to the gallery. The demonstration lasted approximately 2 hours. It was started well before public opening time. Staff were leafleted to request their assistance in stopping Total exploiting the gallery's reputation to whitewash Total. Whilst some staff did not appear to be interested others were very keen for the gallery not to accept Total sponsorship.

Some members of the public arrived early and would have been turned away from visiting the gallery, if the activists had not managed to explain that Total sponsorship was still in discussion, so a boycott was not yet being requested by the demonstration.

Towards the end of the demonstration, a senior member of the gallery spoke to a couple of the activists and indicated that it was less likely that the gallery would accept Total sponsorship, though a final decision had not yet been made. He also mentioned having seen our demonstrations at the Total office at the nearby Cavendish Square.

We hope the Wallace Collection will not tarnish their reputation with dirty Totalitarian Oil and not let themselves be used to whitewash Total's dirty image.


Full Story

Protest at Totalitarian Oil sponsoring French Film Festival

Also on Wednesday 19th March, 6 protesters demonstrated at the French Film Festival at London Cine Lumiere 17 Queensberry Place London. Total was exploiting the French Film Festival and French Arts to try to whitewash their dirty reputation.

The protest was not against the film festival itself or the French films being shown.

It was the last week of the French Film Festival and the 3rd week that there had been a demonstration against Totalitarian Oil sponsoring the French Film Festival.

We were pleased to get support for our protest against Total from the speakers at the event in the previous two weeks: French Director Pierre Salvadori of the film "Priceless" and French director Jean Becker and French actor Jean-Pierre Darroussin of the film "Conversation with my Gardener". We thank them for posing for photographs with our banners and their comments to us in support of the oppressed Burmese.

We hope the French Film Festival will not be exploited by Total next year.

Protests in London Next Week

Wednesday 26th March

Burma Embassy for normal daily Burmese protest
12:00-1pm
Myanmar/Burma Embassy 19A, Charles St, London W1J 5DX.
Tube: Green Park | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2vnnbh

Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
1:30pm-3:00pm
Tube: Oxford Circus | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2tylug

Kilburn Total station, 409 Kilburn High Rd, Kilburn, NW6 7QG
5:00pm - 7:00pm (Wednesday)
Tube: Kilburn | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2e8bb5

March 15th Protest at Totalitarian Oil sponsoring French Film Festival

French actor Jean-Pierre Darroussin (left) French director Jean Becker (right)

From Indymedia:

Nine protesters demonstrated on Friday March 15th at the French Film Festival at London Cine Lumiere 17 Queensberry Place London. They were protesting against Total funding the brutal Burmese military junta with 500 million dollars a year. Total Oil is the largest western sponsor of the evil regime and their pipeline in Burma was built with slave labour. Total exploits the French Film Festival and French Arts to try to whitewash their dirty reputation.

The protest was not against the film festival itself or the French films being shown. Indeed the protesters were joined in their protest by the French director Jean Becker and French actor Jean-Pierre Darroussin of the film "Conversation with my Gardener" being shown. They very kindly posed for a photograph with our "Totalitarian Oil fuelling oppression in Burma" and "Total is the biggest supporter of the military regime in Burma" banners.

Full Story


Protests in London Next Week

Wednesday 19th March

The Wallace Collection (http://www.wallacecollection.org/), an art gallery with French 18th century art, is currently considering a sponsorship deal with Total so we will be asking them not to accept sponsorship from the largest western sponsor of the brutal Burma junta.

The Wallace Collection,
Hertford House, Manchester Square London W1U 3BN
Event Time: 8:30am - 10:30am (gallery opens to public 10:00am - 5pm)
Tube: The nearest tubes are Bond Street (Central & Jubilee Lines) and Baker Street (Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee and Metropolitan Lines). Oxford Circus (Bakerloo, Central, Victoria Lines) is a 10-15 minute walk.
Map: http://www.wallacecollection.org/visiting/howtoreachus/map
Google Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/29ny5f

Burma Embassy for normal daily Burmese protest
12:00-1pm
Myanmar/Burma Embassy 19A, Charles St, London W1J 5DX.
Tube: Green Park | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2vnnbh

Protest at Total sponsoring French Film Festival
(the protest is against Total, not the film festival or films being shown)
5:30pm - 6:45pm
LONDON CINE LUMIERE
www.institut-francais.org.uk
Institut Francais
17 Queensberry Place London SW7 2DT
Tube: South Kensington Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/yvfrbz
LA FRANCE (15) 6.15pm + Q & A Serge Bozon (followed by Barbara Carliotti Concert)

Burma Human Rights Day March 13th

From Indymedia:

About 40 Burmese and their supporters, held a demonstration outside the Burmese Embassy on March 13th in memory of Ko Phone Maw and all those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for Burma's freedom. Ko Phone Maw was the first student murdered by the Burmese junta on March 13th 1988 at a peaceful demonstration at Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT). It was the start of the 1988 democracy protests in which thousands of demonstrators were later murdered.

The Burmese held banners they had made for the protest, calling on the regime to "Stop killing innocent people", to "Stop Torturing innocent people" and to "Boycott unlawful referendum constitution".

After 14 years of farcical "discussions" on a proposed constitution, the military junta has announced that there will be a referendum on it in May. However Burmese have so far been unable to even read or get full information on the constitution they are supposed to be voting on. The details released so far, makes it clear that the farce will continue:

• Anyone who distributes leaflets or makes speeches against Burma's constitutional referendum can be imprisoned for three years. [1]

• Monks, nuns, high-ranking Christian and Hindu leaders are not eligible to participate in the referendum.[1]

• The President must have served 15 years in the military. [2]

• 25% of the seats in the new parliament are reserved for armed forces personnel. [3]

• In a blatant reference to Aung San Suu Kyi, the President can not have a foreign spouse.[3] Her party won 82% of the vote in the 1990 elections, but the junta would not transfer power. She has been in detention for 12 years and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. Her British spouse died in 1999.

• Although the junta pretends to want multi-party elections, it excludes so many people and groups from the election that the UN special rapporteur on Myanmar Paulo Sergio Pinheiro recently remarked "If you believe in gnomes, in trolls and in elves, you can believe in this process of democracy in Myanmar”.[4]

• Burmese villagers are being tricked into signing statements supporting the constitution. Officials collect names, identity card numbers, and parents’ names and addresses whilst obscuring the contents of statements they make the villagers sign. [5]

Notes

1. http://burmadigest.info/2008/02/27/myanmar-to-jail-referendum-disrupters/
2. http://viss.wordpress.com/2007/07/17/how-the-new-burmese-government-will-work/
3. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7280473.stm
4. http://burmadigest.info/2008/03/15/un-rights-expert-says-no-myanmar-visa-after-all/
5. http://english.dvb.no/news.php?id=1052

Full Story

Protest at Total sponsoring French Film Festival

French Film Director Pierre Salvadori shocked at Total sponsorship of French Film Festival

From Indymedia:

Eight protesters demonstrated on Tuesday March 4th at the French Film Festival at London Cine Lumiere 17 Queensberry Place London. The protest was against Total sponsorship as the largest western sponsor of the brutal Burma military junta, not against the festival or the French films being shown. "Priceless" was the first film being shown and its amiable director Pierre Salvadori was shocked to learn that Total was sponsoring the festival.

We were able to leaflet those attending the film and Total was not very popular amongst some of the French attendees who already knew of Total's support for the junta.

The director Pierre Salvadori was speaking at the showing of "Priceless" and came out of the cinema to chat to us. He was very gracious about our protest and pleased to see our banner had a tick in favour of French films. He was shocked to learn that Total was a sponsor of the French Film Festival and sympathetic to the plight of Burma. We were able to further chat with him at a nearby pub later and he very sportingly posed for us with the "Don't Forget Burma" cartoon bubble. We thank him for his support and wish him every success with his films.

See Full Story


News from Burma Campaign

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/pm/weblog.php?id=P333
Willis Ceases Cover to Burma, Pressure Mounts on Insurers Operating in Burma.

The Burma Campaign UK welcomes the undertaking by the world's third largest insurance broker to end their involvement in Burma.

Protests in London Next Week


Wednesday 12th March

Meet at Burma Embassy for normal daily Burmese protest
12:00-1pm
Myanmar/Burma Embassy 19A, Charles St, London W1J 5DX.
Tube: Green Park | Map:

Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
1.30pm-3:00pm
Tube: Oxford Circus | Map:


Thursday 13th March (updated from bdmauk.org website)

Burma Human Rights Day
[Remembers the first student Maung Phone Maw murdered by the junta
on March 13th 1988 at a peaceful demonstration at
Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT) at the start of the 1988
democracy protests in which thousands of demonstrators were later murdered]
(see http://burmadigest.wordpress.com/2006/03/07/ko-phone-maw/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7012158.stm)

BDMA-UK are holding a commemoration in memory of Ko Phone Maw and all those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for Burma's freedom.
(Check http://bdmauk.org for any changes )

BDMA-UK Burma Human Rights Day Events:
(1) Offering food and alms to monks and a brief presentation about Signature Campaign for all political prisoners in Burma.
Time: 10:00 to 12:00
Venue: London Vihara (Wembley Monastery)
1 Old Church Lane London NW9 8TG
Tube: Wembley Park | Map:

(2) Masked Demonstration
Time: 15:00 to 16:00
Myanmar/Burma Embassy 19A, Charles St, London W1J 5DX.
Tube: Green Park | Map:


Friday 14th March

Protest at Total sponsoring French Film Festival
(the protest is against Total, not the film festival or films being shown)
5:30pm - 9pm
LONDON CINE LUMIERE
www.institut-francais.org.uk
Institut Francais
17 Queensberry Place London SW7 2DT
Tube: South Kensington Map:
(Two Films being shown: JUST ABOUT LOVE (15) 6:30pm
CONVERSATION WITH MY GARDENER (12A) 8.30pm
+ Q & A Jean Becker and Jean-Pierre Darroussin
(Speakers are for 2nd film see http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0825244/ )