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ABSDF Statement on the 11th Anniver

Subject: ABSDF Statement on the 11th Anniversary of the 8888

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<b>Media Release- 40/99<br>
</b>August 8,1999<br>
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ABSDF Statement on the Eleventh Anniversary of the 8888 General
Uprising<br>
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Today marks the eleventh anniversary of the nation-wide historical
uprising of the Burmese people against the totalitarian regime and for
democratic change. This ended with bloody military suppression, which led
to the formation of the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) to
continue the unfinished democratic struggle with the spirit of=20
8888.<br>
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The ABSDF strongly believes that the 1988 movement was not a single,
unrelated event but was the continuation of the past struggle by the
students and the people to topple the military dictatorship that had
ruled since 1962.=A0 The uprising stands as the most dramatic case of the
people seeking their freedom from the totalitarian military junta, and
revealed their courage and commitment. In the 1990 general election, the
people expressed their will and the opposition National League for
Democracy (NLD), led by <b>Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,</b> won a landslide
victory.=A0 The military regime ignored the election result and imposed a
systematic crackdown on the NLD.<br>
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Burma presently faces the crisis of a political stalemate, an economic
crisis and social isolation.=A0 300,000 students are waiting to attend
universities and colleges, which have been closed since 1996. Forced
relocation, force labor, discrimination and massive human rights
violations are taking place daily for Burmese people. Thus the current
situation is worse than that in 1988. These circumstances are conducive
to another general uprising in the near future.<br>
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On this special occasion, the ABSDF unanimously demands the State Peace
and Development Council (SPDC) to foster the process of democratization
by:
<dl>
<dd>1. immediately recognizing and convening the People's Parliament with
those elected in the 1990 general election,=20
<dd>2. releasing eminent student leader Min Ko Naing and all political
prisoners unconditionally,=20
<dd>3. reopening all the universities and colleges,=20
<dd>4. ending the nation-wide suppression and human rights violations,
and=20
<dd>5. holding tripartite dialogue with democratic forces led by <b>Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi</b> and ethnic nationalities.=20
</dl>The ABSDF believes in <b>people power</b> and that the only way to
topple the military dictator and to restore democracy in Burma is through
the participation of the Burmese people from all walks of life. Hence the
ABSDF appeals to the Burmese people:=20
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<dd>- to show full support to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD,=20
<dd>- to support the Committee Representing Peoples' Parliament, and=20
<dd>- to wear yellow and to light candles in support of democracy to
honor those who sacrificed their lives in 1988.
</dl>Central CommitteeAll Burma Students' Democratic Front<br>
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<b>For further information please contact 01-253 9082, 01-654 984<br>
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All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF)<br>
P.O. Box 42, Hua Mark P.O, Bangkapi, 10243, Bangkok<br>
&lt;caroline@xxxxxxxxxxxx&gt; &lt;lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&gt;<br>
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