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Burmese Organizations Issue Stateme
- Subject: Burmese Organizations Issue Stateme
- From: maung@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 26 May 1995 19:56:00
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JOINT STATEMENT ON THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRATIC GENERAL ELECTION IN BURMA
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MAY 27, 1995)
The Anniversary
---------------
Today is the fifth anniversary of the multi-party democratic
general election held on May 27, 1990 -- a day which will be
remembered by every Burmese citizen and one that remains
etched in the annals of the movement for democracy and human
rights in present day Burma.
Today is the fifth anniversary of the occasion on which the
people of all nationalities in Burma clearly and strongly
showed to the world that they no longer accept a single-
party, fascist dictatorship and that they want democracy.
Today is the fifth anniversary of the first multi-party
democratic general election ever held in 30 years in Burma -
- a country where people until today continued to be
deprived of democratic freedoms and human rights.
Today is also the fifth anniversary of the 1990 multi-party
democratic general election which is the most significant
consequence of the democratic uprising of August 8, 1988
(8/8/88)initiated by the students and youths and
participated by the people of all nationalities from all
strata.
Viewed in another light, today is the fifth anniversary of
the day the people were able to publicly expose the true
features of the fascist SLORC dictators who, after declaring
that the 1990 election they themselves had held were free
and fair, are refusing to acknowledge the election results.
Today, they flagrantly cling on to the state power that
rightfully belongs to the people and are refusing to
transfer that power to the representatives elected by the
people in a democratic way.
We the undersigned--the National Coalition Government of the
Union of Burma, and all the other democratic, human rights,
and peace organizations--strongly condemn the fascist SLORC
dictators and all others who are directly or indirectly
helping perpetuate the military junta which continues to
violate all the underlying principles of democratic
freedoms, human dignity and human rights and ignore the
criticism and condemnation of the international community.
Problems and Solution
---------------------
We firmly believe that the prevailing problems in Burma
today -- violation of human rights, the lack of equality and
fundamental rights for ethnic nationalities, trafficking of
narcotic drugs, hardships in food, clothing and shelter for
the majority of the people, the corruption of the civil
service personnel, spiralling prices of commodities, the
soaring inflation, the exodus of Burmese refugees to
neighboring countries, the prostitution of Burmese women and
the depletion of natural resources -- are all mere
consequences of the root cause -- the fascist SLORC military
dictators, who are inept, reactionary as well as foolhardy.
We strongly remind the fascist SLORC dictators that their
penchant to resolve the multifarious problems of Burma
through brute military force will not work, and with the
interest of the nation in mind, they should immediately seek
a political solution in a peaceful manner through
UN-sponsored tripartite talks with the democratic forces
headed by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the representatives of
the nationality groups.
We also firmly believe that an atmosphere that is conducive
to peace should be in place if a politically profound and
meaningful dialogue is to take place. This can be achieved
by:
(a) Unconditionally releasing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and
all other political prisoners,
(b) Making available to every citizen, the
fundamentals of democracy such as freedom of expression,
freedom to assemble, freedom of the press, etc, and
(c) Creating conditions that permit a free exchange of
views and ideas between different nationality groups, and
between organizations and parties.
Development
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We believe that the yardstick for development in a country
is by the presence of a uniform development in that country
of (a) democratic values and human rights, (b) genuine
empowerment of the people, and (c) the economy. Of the
three developments, we believe that the first development is
the most fundamental because without democratic values and
human rights in a country, there cannot be any genuine
empowerment of the people nor can there be any sustained
economic development. Lack of democratic values and human
rights can only serve to prolong the power of an oppressive
ruling clique or class. As national leader Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi said, "..People's participation in social and political
transformation is the central issue of our time. This can
only be achieved through the establishment of societies
which place human worth above power, and liberation above
control. In this paradigm, development requires democracy,
the genuine empowerment of the people."
Conclusion
----------
Those who genuinely wish to see a developed Burma should
assist the movement for democracy and human rights in Burma.
We therefore call on the United Nations and governments,
particularly those of neighboring countries to Burma, to
help the Burmese people toward achieving the goals they have
envisioned.
On behalf of the people of Burma, we also call on the United
Nations and all the governments to join in an effort to
impose economic, political and diplomatic sanctions against
the SLORC regime until it is ready to sincerely enter into a
meaningful dialogue to find a political solution.
We believe that it is the national duty of every citizen of
Burma to work toward the establishment of a new, peaceful
and prosperous democratic Burma where fundamental rights of
every citizen, regardless of race, creed or religion, are
guaranteed.
This being our firm conviction, we call on all the people of
Burma, including the military personnel who truly love the
country, and particularly the representatives who were
elected by the people in the 1990 multi-party democratic
general election, to bring an end to the military
dictatorship through their courageous struggle and by
heeding the call of our national leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
to "defy as a duty all orders and commands that are
unethical and unjust."
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National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma
Asian American Civic Alliance (Florida) (AACA)
All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF)
Burma Democratic Council (International)(BDC)
Committee for the Restoration of Democracy in Burma (CRDB)
Democratic Burmese Students Organization (USA)(DBSO)
Foundation for Democracy in Burma (FDB)
Federation of Trade Unions of Burma FTUB)
Laimi Association (LA)
Overseas Lahu Development Organization (OLDO)
Shan State Association (USA) (SSA)
United Front for Human Rights and Democracy in Burma(UFHRDB)
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