ABSDF Statement (r)

[caroline@xxxxxxxxxx]

 ABSDF statement on the Slorc ban of the people's forum in Rangoon
	The State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) has one again
stepped up its restrictions on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's and the NLD's
political activities by prohibiting the "people's forum" which are held in
front of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's residence in Rangoon.
	These regular people's gatherings have been the only way for Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi to meet her supporters and to instruct and inform the
people about the cause of democracy. For Slorc to prohibit these
gatherings prove that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's freedom is conditional and
severely circumscribed and that progress towards democratization and the
empowerment of the people is a fantasy.
	Slorc's ban on the "People's forum" gives clear evidence of the
lack of fundamental human rights, particularly freedom of expression and
assembly, inside Burma.  With this ban, Slorc shows its inability to
tolerate even the mildest exercise of authentic democracy and fundamental
human rights for fear the people might threaten their intended
consolidation of state power.
	Since boycotting the sham National Convention which it sees as a
ploy to entrench the military in power rather than express the will of the
Burmese people, the NLD has frequently asked for dialogue. The Slorc
continues to completely ignore these repeated calls for dialogue; instead
it has engaged in a vicious propaganda war in the junta-controlled press
against both the party And Daw Aung San Suu Kyi personally.
	Moreover, Slorc has recently launched a harsh crackdown on NLD's
activities, including arresting over 260 NLD representatives and
supporters in a futile attempt to prevent a party congress, and using its
own front organization, USDA, to harass the NLD and possibly provoke
mass-disorder.  Now the Slorc is actually banning NLD activities.
	In a related move, Slorc has severely tightened visa restrictions
on journalists. This attempt to create a media blackout will, they hope,
enable them to crack down on the NLD's pro-democracy activities without
the unwanted glare of international attention. All criminals prefer to
operate in the dark.
	ABSDF views Slorc's continued contempt for the wishes of the
Burmese people and their selfish maneuvers to consolidate their power as
extremely dangerous, threatening to plunge Burma once more into political
turmoil.
	 We urged the Burmese people to firmly defy Slorc's oppression and
to support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the activities of the NLD.
	We also urged the international community to carefully monitor the
situation inside Burma, to clearly and strongly censure Slorc's continued
oppression of the Burmese people, and to take resolute action in support
of and solidarity with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the people in Burma. 

Central Committee
ABSDF (DAWN GWIN)
June 7, 1996