Publishers appear on 'name and shame' list from Burma Campaign UK

M2 Best Books, August 31, 2004

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Lonely Planet, Random House and Pan Macmillan are among eight publishers that appear on a new 'name and shame' of companies that allegedly help to finance Burma's military dictatorship.

The list released by the Burma Campaign UK (BCUK) includes companies from all industries with publishers appearing mainly due to their publication of tourist guide books to the country. Random House and Pan Macmillan publish and distribute guides to south-east Asia and Lonely Planet produces an individual guide to the country.

Tourism has become a major source of income for the Burmese dictatorship and BCUK accuses the publishers of the guide books of fuelling the industry but not warning of the Burmese government's practices.

Lonely Planet said that it supports BCUK's goal and that its books describe the regime as 'abominable' but it believes that independent tourism could help bring about change in the country, reports Publishing News.