[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
Burma's deferred democracy (repeat? (r)
- Subject: Burma's deferred democracy (repeat? (r)
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 24 May 1994 23:43:00
/* Written 4:10 am May 23, 1994 by tun@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx in igc:soc.cult.burma */
/* ---------- "Burma's deferred democracy (repeat?" ---------- */
Date: Wed, 18 May 1994 10:21:00 CET
Reply-To: DEBRA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: BURMA'S DEFERRED DEMOCRACY
Organization: Human Rights Network - HRNet
## Original in: /HRNET/ASIA&PACIFIC
-------------------------------------------------------------------
DATE= MAY 17, 1994
TYPE= EDITORIAL
NUMBER= 0-05890
TITLE= BURMA'S DEFERRED DEMOCRACY
ANNCR:
NEXT, AN EDITORIAL REFLECTING THE VIEWS OF THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT.
VOICE:
THIS MONTH MARKS THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF DEMOCRATIC
ELECTIONS IN BURMA -- ELECTIONS THAT THE MILITARY REGIME
REFUSED TO ACCEPT.
BURMA'S MILITARY LEADERS SEIZED POWER IN SEPTEMBER 1988,
FOLLOWING A POPULAR UPRISING THAT ENDED THE LONG MISRULE
OF THE BURMA SOCIALIST PROGRAM PARTY UNDER NE WIN.
BURMESE TROOPS BRUTALLY SUPPRESSED PRO-DEMOCRACY
DEMONSTRATIONS AND PLACED IN POWER OFFICERS SUBSERVIENT
TO NE WIN AND OTHER OFFICIALS OF THE PREVIOUS REGIME.
THESE MEN FORM THE CURRENT NINETEEN-MEMBER JUNTA THAT
CALLS ITSELF THE STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION
COUNCIL.
THE COUNCIL PROMISED MULTI-PARTY ELECTIONS FOR MAY 1990.
THE BURMESE PEOPLE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THIS RARE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THEIR WISHES KNOWN. DESPITE SEVERE
HARASSMENT OF OPPOSITION PARTIES BY THE REGIME, THE
PEOPLE OF BURMA VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO REPLACE THE
MILITARY JUNTA WITH A PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY. THE
NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY WON NEARLY SIXTY PERCENT
OF THE VALID VOTES CAST AND OVER EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE
PARLIAMENTARY SEATS. BUT FAR FROM ACCEPTING THE DECISION
OF THE BURMESE PEOPLE AND TRANSFERRING POWER TO A
DEMOCRATIC CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT, THE GENERALS IN RANGOON
INCREASED THEIR REPRESSION. HUNDREDS OF PRO-DEMOCRACY
ACTIVISTS WERE ARRESTED, INCLUDING MANY MEMBERS OF
PARLIAMENT. THOUGH SOME HAVE BEEN RELEASED, OTHERS
REMAIN IN DETENTION -- MOST NOTABLY NOBEL PEACE
PRIZE-WINNER AUNG SAN SUU KYI.
SINCE THE ELECTIONS OF MAY 1990, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF CITIZENS HAVE BEEN FORCIBLY DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES
BY THE BURMESE MILITARY AND RESETTLED IN REMOTE RURAL
AREAS, OFTEN LACKING BASIC NECESSITIES. ETHNIC
MINORITIES HAVE BEEN SINGLED OUT BY THE MILITARY FOR
RAPE, TORTURE, DEPORTATION, FORCED LABOR, AND SUMMARY
EXECUTION. BASIC CIVIL LIBERTIES HAVE BEEN SUPPRESSED
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. BURMESE AUTHORITIES CONTINUE TO
HOLD POLITICAL PRISONERS UNDER HARSH CONDITIONS AND
REFUSE TO COOPERATE WITH HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS SUCH
AS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS. THE
BAYONETS OF THE BURMESE MILITARY HAVE PROVEN A POOR
SUBSTITUTE FOR THE BALLOTS CAST BY THE BURMESE PEOPLE.
THE UNITED STATES CALLS ON BURMA'S MILITARY LEADERS TO
RELEASE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS AND PERMIT THE BURMESE
PEOPLE TO ESTABLISH THE GOVERNMENT THEY ELECTED FOUR
LONG YEARS AGO.
ANNCR:
THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL REFLECTING THE VIEWS OF THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT.
16-May-94 3:59 PM EDT (1959 UTC) NNNN