Activists, led by campaign group Restless Beings, are set to demonstrate today outside the Excel Centre and at the Olympic Village, against the continued persecution of Rohingya Muslims in western Burma.
In their call for action Restless Beings have said:
This week the Olympics finally come to London - and the worlds eyes will be on our great city - and what better opportunity to help raise awareness for human rights abuses happening right now in Burma against the Rohingya community.
On Saturday some of the Burmese athletes will be performing at ExCel and we have been granted permission to have a peaceful demonstration to highlight our concerns for the Rohingya. The idea is to have a peaceful, colourful and visually attractive fun demonstration to catch the eye of all the spectators to raise awareness of the Rohingya plight.
Thousands of people are still displaced following violent clashes in the Burmese western state formerly called Arakan, last month. The clashes were between Buddhists and local Muslims who have never been granted full citizenship in Burma. They have been trying to cross the border with Bangladesh, but Dhaka has turned them away, saying they cannot afford to help them. Amnesty International has accused Burmese security forces as well as ethnic Rakhine Buddhist residents of assaults, unlawful killings of Muslims and the destruction of property.
