Using my liberty to promote theirs...

I sent the following email to Rememberance Travel, a tour company that work with the Royal British Legion to provide battlefield tours and the like. I discovered that they operated a tour to Burma, thus funding the regime, so I wrote to them...

"Dear Sir or Madam,

I am sure you are aware of the protests in Burma during september of last year and the numerous human rights abuses commited by the Military Junta in Burma since it came to power.

After watching various news programs concerning the situation in Burma such as Newsnight I became aware that Aung Sang Suu Kyi, discourages tourism into Burma as it "funds the oppressive regime and gives it legitimacy" (www.burmacampaign.org.uk).

I then investigated into British tourism companies that operate tours to Burma. Silverbird Travel operates tours to Burma and according to their website there is a tour endorsed by Rememberance Travel to the sites of the Burma Campaign:

http://www.silverbird.co.uk/country.asp?CID=9&MenuOpen=0

I see on your website that this is also the case:

http://www.remembrancetravel.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=tour.view&id=93

Obviously you wish to preserve the memories of those who fought the Japanese during the Burma campaign and having volunteered at the War Memorials Trust for 6 months I know how important it is to preserve our heritage. My Mother also cycled to Paris to raise money for the Royal British Legion so we are a family who wish to preserve our heritage.

However, I am concerned that the tour would support a regime that stands currently for all the things our ancestors fought against. I am confident you feel the same and so I am asking for one or more of the following:

1) Your guarantee that the military junta can IN NO WAY benefit from the tour you provide or
2) That you do NOT operate the tour until the Burmese people are free from their oppression.
3) You remove your endorsement of the Silverbird travel company as I am concerned that they fund the oppressive regime in Burma and sully the name of the Royal British Legion in doing so.

Thank you for your time.

Yours sincerely,

(Ramalam's real name)"

I have yet to hear a response.

There are other tour companies that run holidays to Burma. These tours fund the junta. They both have explainations as to why they do this.

Andrew Brock:

http://www.coromandelabt.com/

Audley Travel:

www.audleytravel.com

You can learn more, help join the struggle for Burma's democracy and find links to other companies that fund the junta with trade here:

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/

I went on a Peacemarch through London last weekend and the compassion for all those in Burma, even the soldiers was amazing. These people deserve their freedom.

I love you all.

Ram