Repression sharpens calls for Maersk to pull out of Burma

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9 November 2007

The Burmese government’s violent crackdown on dissent has led to increased calls for companies such as Maersk to stop trading with the country and its dictatorial military rulers.

The Burmese army and police are being used to break up demonstrations and carry out mass arrests under cover of the nightly curfew. Dozens of protesters are believed to have died in the last fortnight.

Meanwhile, human rights campaigners say, AP Moller Maersk is indirectly propping up the regime. The Burma Campaign UK, which put Maersk on its ’dirty list’ two years ago, is once again encouraging the company to get out of Burma.

“Maersk is still operating in Burma and is involved in the export of goods,” Mark Farmaner, Burma Campaing UK Acting Director, told the magazine of the United Federations of Danish Workers, 3F. “We have tried to ask Maersk about their activities but they have refused to tell us about them,” he said.

According to Mark Farmaner: “Maersk have blood on their hands. By being involved in trade in Burma they help finance the bullets that are being fired against peaceful demonstraters.” He says that he is unaware of any other European or American shipping lines operating in Burma, and urges Maersk to leave the country immediately – a plea also made by the Danish Burma Committee.

AP Moller-Maersk is represented in Burma by a local agent, which has an office in the capital, Rangoon, according to the Maersk Line website, which describes it as a ‘Maersk Line Representative Office’.

Despite recent events the company has no plans to cease trading there.

”As a global common carrier we as a principle sail with legal cargo to and from legal areas,” Senior Vice President Jette Clausen stated. She added that if the UN decided on an international boycott of transport to Burma, then Maersk would accept it.

Links

Maersk Line in Burma (aka Myanmar)

Burma Campaign UK

Danish Burma Committee

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