Knowing that Burma is a country ruled by one of the world's most brutal dictatorships, one that has been charged by the UN with crimes against humanity, I was appalled to see a travel feature promoting tourism there (The Argus, April 7).

The article painted Burma through rose-tinted spectacles and failed to mention the International Labour Organisation has condemned Burma for using forced labour to build attractions for tourists.

Tourism provides the dictatorship with millions of pounds every year, thus legitimising the regime and contributing to the suffering of the innocent Burmese people, thousands of whom have been forced to relocate to make way for tourist facilities.

The Burmese democracy movement has called for an international boycott of tourism in Burma and even Tony Blair has willed people not to visit. I am sure Burma is "like stepping back in time" but that is because the military has such tight control on their country and spends as little as three per cent of the annual budget on healthcare and education.

It is somewhat ironic that the Brighton-based campaign group BN4 Burma just last week held a meeting at the Friends Meeting Centre, where the audience heard the account of a Burmese refugee, who had been forced to leave her village due to the ethnic cleansing of the Karen state.

Following demonstrations on Saturday, March 17, at the MKone clothing shop chain, one of which is situated in Western Road, Brighton, the company has withdrawn a range of clothes which were made in the country.

I urge people thinking about visiting Burma to consider the impact of their holiday carefully.

  • Roberta Emmott, Stonepit Lane, Henfield