28/8/98 statement

[bakatha@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

ALL BURMA FEDDRATION OF STUDENT UNIONS
(FOREIGN AFFAIRS)

STATEMENT
28/8/98


In our statement dated 19.8.98, the All Burma Federation of Student Unions,
have already declared that it is not only the National League for Democracy
which is responsible to convene a parliament but also all students and
people, and therefore we will participate to our utmost in the movement to
have an elected government. We also stated that the military regime also
called the SPDC should defuse the political deadlock and tension by means
of peaceful dialogue instead of violent method and suppression. 

Together with the Rangoon University Students' Union, the Committee to
Safeguard  Student Rights and other student groups, the ABSFU started the
activities on 22nd August 1998. On 24th Aug, the people had supported and
associated with our action and it became more powerful. But the SPDC
responded through violent ways and counter movements instead of solving
through the compromising way. The authorities have arrested some students
and some of them have been seriously intimidated and threatened. Although
some have been released now, some are still detained. The authorities are
trying to charge them by accusing them as destructive elements. The
military regime always tries to degrade the student movements as being
power politics instead of national politics. The national politics of ABFSU
is to hold three flags of people's struggle: these are democracy, internal
peace and national solitary and five principles of students' union. 

Currently all sectors of life in Burma (Education, Economics, Social and so
on) have been degrading very badly. The present political tension is an
explosive substance for general unrest. The only way to defuse this tension
is to have open, frank and dignified dialogue among all political forces
and military regime including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.  We, ABFSU, have always
believed that it is also essential to make a democratic environment or to
practice with democracy for that dialogue. It is impossible to solve the
current political problem and social unrest without the democratic society.
Therefore we condemn the SPDC which is trying to silence the students'
voice and the people's desire.

We, ABFSU, also have requested the international community, the governments
and students
· To pressure upon the military regime, SPDC, for a democratic environment
in Burma
· To push for open dialogue between the democratic forces including Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi and SPDC.
· To support the current student movements inside Burma

We will speed up our action for national reconciliation, democratic rights
and elected government firmly with other student unions, democratic forces
and patriotic persons including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.





According to the decision of ABFSU,


Foreign Affairs' Committee
All Burma Federation of Student Unions.
28th August 1998.