New Delhi (Mizzima) - Mike Robertson, a United Kingdom climber, on Thursday morning solo-climbed the outside of Lloyd’s fourteen-storey, 88 meter-high, building in the British capital in protest of Lloyd’s of London’s financial dealings with Burma’s military junta.
Robertson, who climbed the building without climbing equipment or permission, erected a banner urging the insurance underwriters to cease financial dealings with Burma, whose ruling junta reportedly benefits from the deals.
Robertson timed his protest to coincide with the eve of detained Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s 64th birthday, which falls on Friday June 19.
The Burmese Nobel Peace Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been under detention for more than 13 of the past 19 years and is currently facing trial under charges of breaching her detention law by allegedly allowing an American man to visit her at her lakeside home.
Campaigners and activists have called on Lloyd’s of London, and various other insurance syndicates operating from within Lloyd’s building, to cease financial dealings with Burma’s military rulers.
Campaigners say Lloyd’s of London’s underwriting of the Burmese military generals’ airline and shipping interests merely perpetuates the junta’s lifeline. The junta has been condemned internationally for human rights violations including forced relocation, rape, child labor, imprisonment without trial and murder.
Earlier Robertson, in November 2007, solo-climbed the outside of the Eiffel Tower to draw attention to French company Total’s involvement with Burma’s generals.
