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Burma group in row with bank
9:41am Saturday 17th May 2008
A major bank has defended asking a campaign group to remove posters stuck to the wall of one of its branches during a fundraising appeal for victims of the Burmese cyclone.
Members of the Oxford Burma Solidarity Group stuck three posters to the wall of HSBC's branch in Cornmarket last Saturday as they set up a table outside the bank.
They handed out leaflets raising awareness about the military regime in Burma as they raised cash for the thousands hit by the devastating cyclone.
OBSG spokesman Alessandra Pigni told the Oxford Mail the group had not been harassing passers-by or shaking donation boxes - but nevertheless a member of staff at the bank told them to remove the posters they had taped up.
She explained: "We made very basic handmade signs advertising the appeal.
"Somebody from the bank came out and took down one of the posters because he said he didn't know if his company supported our campaign.
"We were engaging with people and it was peaceful. The focus of the day was the cyclone and that was very clear to people who stopped and gave money.
"People who were passing by were outraged and told us not to take down the signs down. It was unacceptable."
She also claimed HSBC supported and conducted business with the Burmese regime - a claim denied by the bank.
HSBC spokesman Tim Pie said staff at the Oxford branch were very surprised a complaint had been made about what happened.
He said the campaign group had not been harassing customers and been very friendly.
Mr Pie added: "We are a non-political organisation. We have already made a £35,000 donation to the cyclone appeal and are currently match-funding customer donations up to £1.5m.
"We absolutely support the right of people demonstrate. It was just a matter of keeping the shop front windows clear.
"We meant no offence and are a little disappointed the group has gone to the press."
Your Say YourOxford
Steve, Watlington says...
12:30pm Sat 17 May 08
Stephanie, says...
12:56pm Sat 17 May 08
But I do not think it is right to stick things up on other people's walls without asking them. Movable boards are a better idea.
Burma Solidarity Campaigner, says...
12:07am Sun 18 May 08
Interesting then that they should suddenly chose to complain this time. Could it be because research by the Burma Campaign UK and other reputable groups has shown that HSBC, with other banks, owns and controls Swift, which is a financial service that operates in Burma as well. The evidence states that:
Swift is a financial services co-operative company owned and controlled by many of the worlds largest banks, including Citibank, HSBC and ABN Amro. Swift hosts an electronic network that banks use to make transfers to each other. Following the imposition of financial sanctions by the United States government in August 2003 the regime faced a crisis, unable to use dollars in financial transactions. Swift came to their aid, making four Burmese banks part of its network. The regime is now able to avoid US financial sanctions by making financial transfers in Euros using Swifts network.
(http://www.burmacam
paign.org.uk/pm/webl
og.php?id=P137)
Mr Ison, England says...
12:48am Sun 18 May 08
Looking at the Genocide they were party to do you really want that for your own countrymen?
Mr Ison, England says...
12:59am Sun 18 May 08
Puppets who sold out the nation and act as an international bankers go between.
Quite why terrorists are enabled by police inaction and why they are offered domicile leads directly to New Labour,who also sold out the country to international bankers.
Happy?
Burma Solidarity Campaigner, says...
11:09pm Sun 18 May 08
Mr Ison, England says...
11:40pm Sun 18 May 08
Dennis Hambridge, Oxford says...
7:05am Tue 20 May 08
Quote HSBC:-They didnot want thier windows obscured, there was now appeal signs on the windows, the signs were on walls only regarding the cyclone appeal, therefore thats another HSBC lie.
The only sign on a window was near a cashpoint machine which was a Oxford-Burma leaflet half the size of a A4 sheet.
Equally when the companies staff representative who took the postor down went back inside the bank,he took great delight with other colleagues to have a good laugh about it.
Again the bank lies when it states it is not assisting and dealing with the Burma Regime it is equally supporting the Regime through the back door against the wishies not just of Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma,s citezens but also of the British and USA Governments and the UN.
This Regime has violated the most single Human Rights abuses then any other country since Adolph Hitler and his cronies in World War 2, infact the Burma regime have violated all 1-30 Articles the 19-48 Human Rights Acts and at least 4 Covanant of Rights including Violations of Child rights, Womens Rights and Black/Ethnic rights and Ethnic Cleansing, religeous rights, YES even the Rape of innocent Children and Women.
Yes Actavists and any caring person will fight for the sake of Humanty.
HSBC you stand for "AIDING AND ABETING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BURMA", this is no better then holding GUN yourselfs.
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ivortheengine, says...
11:01am Sat 17 May 08