British tour operators statement on

[tourconcern@xxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: British tour operators statement on Burma human rights abuse


>PRESS RELEASE...NEWS... PRESS RELEASE...NEWS... PRESS RELEASE....NEWS... 
>
>
>BRITISH TOUR OPERATORS MAKE STATEMENTS ON BURMA
>
>>>Some British Tour operators have made a statement about the human rights
>abuses in Burma.  Following is a press release sent out by Tourism Concern
>and a copy of the letter they have sent to SLORC.  
>>>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>------
>>>Tuesday, 7 May 1996			TOURISM IN BURMA
>>>
>>>BRITISH TOUR OPERATORS
>>>TAKE A STAND ON  HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES 
>>>
>>>British tour operators have taken a unique stand on the human rights
>abuses in Burma by sending letters to the military junta, the State Law and
>Order Council (SLORC), in Rangoon.
>>>
>>>Three tour operators, Symbiosis Expedition Planning, Himalayan Kingdoms,
>and Nomadic Thoughts, have written explaining that the extreme nature of the
>human rights abuses in Burma, (renamed Myanmar by the SLORC) which are
>directly linked to tourism development, have prompted their decision not to
>operate in the country (see enclosed letters).  They assert that they will
>not be operating tours to Burma until they are confident that SLORC's policy
>of forcibly relocating people and using forced labour to build the tourism
>infrastructure has completely stopped.  They also cite concerns that tourism
>is not being developed in a way that benefits the majority of the Burmese
>people.  One other operator, Cycle South East Asia is in correspondence with
>the Myanmar Ministry of Tourism because of extreme harassment experienced by
>their tour group who were expelled from the country by the military for no
>apparent reason.
>>>
>>>Various operators who do operate in Burma, decided at a meeting at the
>House of Commons organised by Tourism Concern this March, that a joint
>letter should be sent from them to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism in
>Rangoon.  This was sent this week, stating their objections to the human
>rights abuses associated with tourism (see enclosed letter).  
>>>
>>>Signatories to the letter are: Imaginative Traveller, Indochina Travel,
>Bales Tours, Andrew Brock Travel, Explore Worldwide, Exodus, Silk Steps and
>Association of Independent Tour operators (AITO).  The letter outlines their
>concerns about forced relocations and forced labour associated with tourism,
>harassment of recently returned travellers by the military, and denial of
>visas to some tourists who expressed a wish in meeting democracy leader, Daw
>Aung San Suu Kyi.												
>>>"This is the first time that tour operators have made statements on human
>rights abuses related to tourism development, and we are very pleased that
>they are taking such issues on board," said Patricia Barnett, Director of
>Tourism Concern, which is focusing on the situation in Burma as part of its
>campaign on the displacement of people through tourism, Our Holidays, Their
>Homes.  "Burma is one of the worst examples in the world of human rights
>abuse being directly associated with tourism development, and we are
>delighted that some organisations operating to Burma are making it clear
>that such atrocities are not acceptable.  Most of the operators who have
>signed the letter are smaller operators, however, and we are disappointed
>that the larger operators have not yet agreed to take such an important
>step."  (see attached list).
>>>
>>>John Pilger and David Munro's film 'Inside Burma: Land of Fear', to be
>broadcast next Tuesday 14th May (ITV, 10.40pm), is an under-cover
>investigation into Burma's appalling human rights situation, and shows
>clearly the connection of tourism to some of that abuse.  			
>>>Over two million Burmese have been forcibly relocated from their homes to
>make way for tourism development, and hundreds of thousands of men, women,
>and children have been used as forced labour to build the country's tourism
>infrastructure in preparation for Visit Myanmar Year 1996, particularly
>roads and railways.  The United Nations Commission on Human Rights has put
>Burma under the highest scrutiny by appointment of a Special Rapporteur, and
>SLORC has also been questioned about the human rights abuses the
>International Labour Office, as well as by human rights organisations such
>as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch Asia, and most recently, by
>the European Union.
>>>
>>>The SLORC has a target of 500,000 visitors to Burma for Visit Myanmar Year
>1996, the start of which has been delayed until October due to problems with
>infrastructure.  Electricity cuts and water shortages are commonplace in
>Rangoon because of the pressure being put on the city's poor infrastructure
>by the newly built hotels and services.   Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, founder of
>the National League for Democracy, has made it clear that she feels tourism
>is a negative force in Burma and has renamed 1996 'Don't Visit Burma Year.'  
>>>
>>>FOR INFORMATION CONTACT TOURISM CONCERN
>>>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>>TOUR OPERATORS WHO HAVE SENT LETTERS TO THE BURMESE AUTHORITIES
>>>
>>>Letters sent from tour operators who have chosen NOT to operate in Burma:
>>>
>>>Christopher Gow, Managing Director, Symbiosis Expedition Planning, 113
>Bollingbroke Grove, London SW11 1DA.  Tel. 0171 924 5906
>>>
>>>Jono Powell, Managing Director, Nomadic Thoughts Worldwide Travel, 22
>Hopefield Ave, London NW5 6LJ.  Tel. 0181-960 1001.  
>>>
>>>Steve Berry, Managing Director, Himalayan Kingdoms Ltd, 20 The Mall,
>Clifton Bristol BS8 4DR.  Tel. 0117 923 7163
>>>
>>>Tracy Horsman and Diane Guest, Cycle South East Asia, 3 Normandy Mansions,
>Normandy Avenue, Barnet, Herts EN5 2HY.  Tel. 01992 893252. (Tour was
>stopped and expelled by the authorities for no reason).
>>>
>>>Signatories to the joint letter by tour operators who ARE operating in Burma:
>>>
>>>Martin Dunn, The Imaginative Traveller, 14 Barley Mow Passage, Chiswick,
>London W4 4PH.  Tel. 0181-742 3113
>>>
>>>Philip Normington, Exodus, 9 Wier Road, Balham, London SW12 0LY.  Tel.
>0181 675 5550
>>>
>>>Suzi Poole, Explore Worldwide Ltd, 1 Frederick Street, Aldershot, Hants
>GU11 1LQ.  Tel. 01252 319448
>>>
>>>Sarah Kassim, Indochina Travel, Chiswick Gate, 598-608 Chiswick High Road,
>London W4 5RT.  Tel. 0181-995 3883
>>>
>>>Andrew Brock, Andrew Brock Travel., 54 High Street East, Upingham, Rutland
>LE15 9PZ.  Tel. 01572 821072
>>>
>>>Molly Bales, Bales Tours Ltd, Bales House, Junction Road, Dorking Surrey
>RH4 3HB.  Tel. 01306 885991
>>>
>>>D. McCracken, Silk Steps Ltd, PO Box 24, Bristol BS16 6JY.  Tel. 0117 940
>2800.
>>>
>>>Giles Gurney, AITO, 133a St. Margaret's Road, Twickenham, Middlesex TW1
>1RG. Tel. 0181-744 9280
>>>
>>>
>>>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>-----
>>>
>>>
>>>        A JOINT LETTER FROM BRITISH TOUR OPERATORS
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>H.E. Lt. Gen Kyaw Ba, 
>>>Minister for Hotels and Tourism, 
>>>77/91 Sule Pagoda Road
>>>Yangon
>>>Myanmar
>>>Fax.  009 51 282 535
>>>
>>>7 May 1996
>>>
>>>Dear Sir
>>>
>>>We are writing as various British tour operators who have an interest in
>operating in Myanmar but have some concerns about developing our own
>operations in the country.  We believe it will be helpful both to you and to
>ourselves if we can make you aware of what these are about.
>>>
>>>Tourism is one of the world's fastest growing industries and can bring
>great rewards to countries it favours.  More and more travellers are
>choosing to visit countries that offer cultural attractions rather than just
>beaches and sunshine.   However, these travellers are also interested in the
>people and the customs of the countries they visit.  Mynamar has many of the
>right attributes to capitalise on this growth in cultural tourism but at the
>moment the number of visitors from western countries is small.  
>>>
>>>One of the reasons why the level of tourism to Myanmar is low is because
>the State Law and Order Restoration Council has a very poor image overseas.
>SLORC is considered by many travellers to be a repressive regime which
>denies many Burmese citizens basic human rights.  There is also great
>concern amongst the travelling public and the travel industry about reports
>concerning forced relocations and forced labour associated with the
>development of tourism.  
>>>
>>>Travellers recently returned from Myanmar have told how their visit was
>spoiled by disruption to their itinerary, by restrictions on their movements
>and by government harassment.  Modern travellers and tourists do not expect
>to experience restrictions on their movements when they are on holiday.
>Publicity of this kind deters others from visiting Myanmar and deters tour
>operators from promoting the destination for fear of excessive complaints.
>If a tour operator is going to publish an itinerary in their brochure they
>must have the confidence that they will be able to operate it without
>disruption.  
>>>
>>>The release of  Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was much welcomed around the world.
>It was seen as a positive step in the right direction.  We have been
>disappointed to learn that many visitors who have expressed a wish to meet
>Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have not been permitted to do so.  We have been
>informed that some tourists and tour operators who stated in advance their
>wish to meet her were actually denied entry to the country.  
>>>
>>>If it is your wish, as it is ours, that foreign visitors should be welcome
>in Myanmar, then some steps need to be taken to clarify your position on
>these issues and reassure potential visitors.  
>>>
>>>We would welcome a statement from you on these issues that can be
>distributed to potential visitors.  
>>>
>>>
>>>Yours faithfully
>>>
>>>Signed by:
>>>
>>>Philip Normington, Exodus, 9 Wier Road, Balham, London SW12 0LY.  
>>>
>>>Martin Dunn, The Imaginative Traveller, 14 Barley Mow Passage, Chiswick,
>London W4 4PH.  
>>>
>>>Suzi Poole, Explore Worldwide Ltd, 1 Frederick Street, Aldershot, Hants
>GU11 1LQ
>>>
>>>Sarah Kassim, Indochina Travel, Chiswick Gate, 598-608 Chiswick High Road,
>London W4 5RT
>>>
>>>Andrew Brock, Andrew Brock Travel., 54 High Street East, Upingham, Rutland
>LE15 9PZ
>>>
>>>Molly Bales, Bales Tours Ltd, Bales House, Junction Road, Dorking Surrey
>RH4 3HB
>>>
>>>Giles Gurney, Association of Independent Tour Operators, 133a St.
>Margaret's Road, Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 1RG
>>>
>>>D. McCracken, Silk Steps Ltd, PO Box 24, Bristol BS16 6JY.
>>>
>>>
>>>cc. U Hla Maung, The Ambassador of the Union of Myanmar, Myanmar Embassy,
>London.
>>>Fax. 0171-629 4169
>>>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>-----
>
>EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE LETTERS SENT BY A BRITISH TOUR OPERATOR WHO HAS CHOSEN
>NOT TO OPERATE IN BURMA.
>
>
>TO:     H.E. Lt. Gen Kyaw Ba
>        Minister for Hotels and Tourism
>        77/91 Sule Pagoda Road
>        Yangon - Myanmar
>
>FROM: 
>Nomadic Thoughts Worldwide Travel
>23 Hopefield Avenue
>London NW6 6LJ
>Tel. 0181 960 1001
>Fax. 0181-960 1006
>
>Dear Lt. General
>
>As a UK based tour operator providing services to South East Asia, I am
>informing you that we have decided to suspend our tours in Myanmar in
>respect of the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's request
>asking that all tour operators respect the 'Don't Visit Burma Year, 1996'.
>
>Having been privileged to visit Myanmar in the past we would like to stress
>that it is with great regret that we come to this decision - the warmth and
>excessive friendliness of the Burmese people, richness of the history and
>never ending charm of your country's culture will always stand out in my own
>memories.
>
>However, I feeel it is wrong for us to operate in a country that has been
>questioned so regularly on its unacceptable human rights abuses (with
>partiuclar reference to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights,
>European Union, International Labour Office, and human rights organisations
>Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch Asia).  An example being the
>arrest of Ye Htut on 27th September 1995 by Military Intelligence Officers
>in Yangon (Rangoon).
>
>We are extremely concerned at the relocation of people and use of forced
>labour, including children (which is aginst the ILO convention No. 29) in
>order to 'develop tourism'.  Further to this we would also ask you to take
>not of our concern with the environmental problems such as water and
>electricity shortages caused by the rapid and unplanned tourism development
>- all future tourism should benefit the Burmese people and future holiday
>makers in turn.
>
>Although we would very much like to arrange travel for our clinets to
>Myanmar we will neglect to do so until a) Slorc stops denying all Burmese
>citizens basic human rights and b) we are convinced the Burmese people stand
>to benefit from the developments in tourism.
>
>Yours sincerely
>
>Jono Powell
>Managing Director
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>-----
>
>
>For copies of other letters sent by Symbiosis Expedition Planning and
>Himalayan Kingdoms please contact Tourism Concern.
>
>        
>                                  
>                                           
>(tourconcern@xxxxxxxxxx)
>
>Tourism Concern, Southlands College, Wimbledon Parkside, London SW19 5NN.
>Tel. 0181-944 0464.  Fax. 0181-944 6583.
>
>
>
>
                                  
                                           
(tourconcern@xxxxxxxxxx)

Tourism Concern, Southlands College, Wimbledon Parkside, London SW19 5NN.
Tel. 0181-944 0464.  Fax. 0181-944 6583.