T

he military regime in Burma, headed by Senior General Than Shwe, is waging a campaign of terror against its civilians in violation of international law. The regime continues to deploy torture, sexual violence, forced labor, murder and imprisonment as tools to rule over the country. These crimes have been well documented by the United Nations and various international organizations and pose a threat to international peace and security.

Burma is one of the most heavily mined areas in the world, with approximately 1,500 landmine victims, a third of them civilians. According to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), Burma ranks among top in the world for the most extensive use of landmines. The military regime in the country has refused to sign the international treaty banning landmines - clearly sending the message that they have no intention of ensuring that civilians do not continue to be casualties and targets of war.