A number of Victoria University students will be campaigning this week as part of Amnesty International Freedom Week 2010.
This year’s focus is Myanmar, which will this year hold their first regional and local elections in 20 years. Since the military regime took over from Ne Win’s socialist government in 1988, Myanmar has been crippled by widespread discrimination, poverty and bloodshed.
Students hope to raise awareness of the issue through a number of initiatives, including wearing bandages over their mouths and inviting others to pull them off, symbolically ‘freeing the speech’. Students will also be able to sign a giant petition and letters from Burmese student activists to show their support.
The week will end in a ‘Free the Speech’ gig, featuring DJ Ara of Katchafire, at Bodega bar on Saturday night.
