Burma: boycott of Lonely Planet to continue

Some years ago many of us supported a campaign against companies that were encouraging tourism to Burma or indeed were getting products from there. We had some very noteable successes - various key travel and clothing companies withdrawing from Burma. However one failure was Lonely Planet who persistently ignored pleas to stop encouraging tourism there.

Last month Lonely Planet was sold to the BBC so I have written again in the hope that the new owners will look favourably on this issue - in the meantime I have continued to boycott Lonely Planet and would urge others to do the same until we get assurances of a position change. Here is my letter sent to the BBC:

I am very concerned that Lonely Planet publications produces a guide to Burma. Now that BBC Worldwide has bought a 75% controlling stake in Lonely Planet, one of the first things it will have to decide is what to do with this travel guide.

You will be aware that Lonely Planet is on a "dirty list" of companies that Burma Campaign UK is petitioning to sever all business ties with the Burmese economy in order to cut off the ruling military dictatorship's overseas revenue. If you continue to publish the guide then you are taking sides.

The development of hotels, transport and tourist attractions to encourage visitors to Burma is directly linked to mass human rights abuses. Added to this, tourist dollars go straight into the hands of the dictatorship. For these reasons Aung San Suu Kyi, the British Government and the European Union have asked tourists not to visit Burma. Against the weight of this advice Lonely Planet publications continues to promote tourism to Burma through their Burma guide.

Burma's people are suffering under a brutal dictatorship that:

- forces around 8 million people (equivalent to the population of inner London) to build roads, railways and other projects. Forced labourers face punishments including beatings, torture, rape and murder.
- forces more than 50,000 children to become soldiers : a greater number than any other country in the world.
- has 'ethnically cleansed' over half a million minority peoples.
- has refused to hand power to Aung San Suu Kyi's Party, the National League for Democracy : which won 82% of the seats in Burma's 1990 election.
- has made Burma the world's leading producer of heroin and opium.

Other companies like Rough Guides have said they will not publish while the dictatorship remains in power and Aung San Suu Kyi requests tourists not to visit.

The right to life and the right to live without torture and intimidation must come higher than any of our rights as tourists for freedom of movement. Lonely Planets position is impossible to defend. Please reassure me that you will cease to publish the Burma guide.

Others can take action by going to the Burma Campaign website:
www.burmacampaign.org.uk

Or email the BBC direct