BURMA WOMEN'S DAY (r)

[altsean@xxxxxxxxxx]

ALTSEAN-BURMA
A L T E R N A T I V E       A S E A N       N E T W O R K       O N       B
U R M A
tel: 66 2 275 1811,66 2 693 4515        fax: 66 2 693 4515
<altsean@xxxxxxxxxx>
____________________________________________________________________________
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A.  BURMA WOMEN'S DAY UPDATE
B.  MEDIA RELEASE

* Please note that the text of the book "Burma and the Role of Women",
published by ABSDF last March can you emailed to you upon request by the
ALTSEAN-BURMA Secretariat.

You can do something to support Burma Women's Day - some actions may include:

1. Circulating information about Burma Women's Day to as many groups as possible

2. Organising a silent protest of women wearing Suu Kyi masks outside the
nearest Burmese Embassy or diplomatic mission - or public space.  Ten women
in Suu Kyi masks holding up a banner will make an impact. Using that as a
backdrop for a reading of Suu Kyi's writings ("Freedom from Fear") woudl be
quite dramatic. Try to get media coverage

3. Trying to generate public and media awareness of the situation of women
in Burma.

4. Sending a letter/statement to the editor of your favourite publications
(be sure to send a copy to burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx and
free-burma@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)

__________________________________________________________________


For immediate release: June 14th, 1997

MEDIA RELEASE:
SILENT PROTEST, RECEPTION TO MARK BURMA WOMEN'S DAY

Bangkok: Women's organizations will join forces with Burma activists to
organize a silent protest and a reception on Thursday, June 19th to
celebrate the first Burma Women's Day.

A team of "Aung San Suu Kyis" will gather outside the Burmese Embassy (132
Sathorn Nua Road) at 11 a.m. (1100) in a silent protest against the
suppression of women in Burma.

They will later adjourn to the Siam City Hotel (Sri Ayutthaya Rd, nr
Phyathai Rd) where a reception to launch Burma Women's Day and celebrate
Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday will begin at 6 p.m. (1800).

Burma Women's Day will acknowledge the essential role of women in Burma in
the promotion of social justice, peace, human rights and democracy.  It will
honor the sacrifices made by millions of women who face military aggression,
abuse, looting, murder, imprisonment, torture, attacks on their person and
character, as well as attacks on their families and colleagues, because of
their commitment to peace.

June 19 is significant because it is also the birthday of Nobel Laureate and
Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, one of the most internationally
admired women in contemporary times.  It provides us with an opportunity to
reflect that there are millions of (sometimes invisible) women who not only
participate directly in the movement for positive change in Burma, but also
support the involvement of family members in the struggle.

ALTSEAN-BURMA coordinator Debbie Stothard said that Burma Women's Day
highlights the situation in Burma as a matter of grave concern for all
women: "The safety and equality of women, let alone their rights as human
beings, are a casualty of the brutal oppression perpetuated by Burma's State
Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc).

"Women, whether politically active or not, continue to bear the brunt of the
military dictatorship in Burma.  Economic hardship, denial of health and
education services, forced relocations, forced labor, military abuses
including rape and torture, HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, trafficking of women and
girls, and military-oriented advancement all conspire to suppress women in
Burma.

"Gender equality is part of democracy, and women's rights are human rights.
This must be part of the future Burma that we are working towards," said Ms
Stothard.

ENDS

For more information, please contact the ALTSEAN-BURMA secretariat at tel.
no 66 2 275 1811, fax 693 4515 or email <altsean@xxxxxxxxxx>