Latest from IUSY Member Organisation ABSL on Violence in Burma

Today IUSY received the latest information from our comrades of the All Burma Students League (ABSL) :

1. Last night, army, riot police and their handpicked thugs USDA ( union solidarity and development association) raided most of the monasteries in Rangoon. Several hundreds monks had been arrested. Authorities issued a decree which restricts monks to not go out from their monasteries between 9 pm to 5 am for the next two months.

2. The worst monastery is Nge-Kyar-yan located in South Okklapa 6/7 kilometer north of Rangoon, which is home for 400/500 monks. Nobody knows what happened last night there, but people found empty houses in the morning with a pond of blood and broken statute of lord Buddha.

3. Now people dare to take step forward as they are cannot bear to see that monks have either been beaten or killed. Since 10/11 am until now there has shooting in several places in Rangoon.

ABSL Statement on Army Crackdown of Peaceful Movement of Buddhist Monks

We. ABSL strongly condemned Burmese military regime named State Peace and Development Council, SPDC, for its brutal crackdown on peaceful movement of Burmese people led by Buddhist monks, in which three monks were killed, 17 people wounded and several hundreds of people had been arrested.
We are also saddened with deep pain by this crackdown of SPDC regime which had never been happen in history of Burmese society, as faithful Buddhist Burmese held high esteem regard to the Monks and none can consider to harm or even none dare to show disrespectedful them up.
We fell disturb and hurt by the India’s inaction to prevent such treagedy mete out against Buddhist monks and people who practicing Gandhian way of nonviolent with compassion for peace and prosperity in the country, release of all the political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi and national reconciliation.
It is a tragedy that the SPDC could not heed the numerous suggestion of international community and the peoples of Burma to embrace reconciliation stance, through sustainable dialogue to end the decades long conflict.
We are deeply concern over the consequences of regime’s stubbornness to hang on power may drag-down Burma into genocidal war like in Rwanda, as Sangha ( Monk Society ) issue a statement that said they are pledge to continue to fight and they are already to sacrifice, and call for people participation.
It is high time now that the international community, India and China in particular, to condemn Junta’s heinous crime and urge SPDC regime refrain from brutal and violent war to resort the crisis. We are also appeal for the UN intervention to prevent repetition of 1988 treadegy.

Kyaw Than President
All Burma Students League
(issued on 26th September 2007)

PES tells Burma-The hour of change is near, the world is watching

The Party of European Socialists joined up with the Socialist Group in the European Parliament to urge the Burmese government to seize the opportunity for peaceful change, and to warm the government against repression of the peaceful movement for change. In a joint letter to the Burmese authorities from PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and Socialist Group Leader Martin Schulz, they write “We believe there is now a unique opportunity for a peaceful and orderly change in Burma. We fear that the consequences of not seizing that opportunity will be particularly harsh – especially for those who might stand in the way of change.”Their letter states “The hour of change is near. The world is watching.”“We call on the Junta to choose the wise path – and move rapidly towards a peaceful and democratic resolution of the current crisis.”But they also pledge to work for new sanctions if the regime uses violence against the protestors. “We will do all we can to ensure that violence by the regime will trigger new sanctions by the international community.”Rasmussen and Schulz highlight their “admiration and support for the brave people of Burma who are peacefully demanding democracy and justice in their country” and state that ”The images of opposition led by Buddhist monks underlines to the whole world the peaceful intent of this movement for change, and the fact that the demand for change comes from the very heart of Burmese society.”

Go to http://www.pes.org/ to read letters by the PES and the Socilaist Group in the European Parliament as well as an open letter by other Socialist responsibles

IUSY Condemns Harsh Crackdown by Burmese Military on Pro-Democracy Protestors

In the continued crackdown by the military junta on protesters in Rangoon, the military have been broadcasting warnings that they should go home or face 'serious action'.

Fresh protests which began this morning have followed reported overnight raids of six monasteries in which soldiers smashed windows and doors and beat sleeping monks. Hundreds of monks were taken away in military trucks.

Two members of the National League for Democracy the party lead by Aung San Suu Kyi were arrested last night.

Protesters poured into the streets of Rangoon today in a strong act of defiance. As they sang nationalist songs and and hurled abuse at soldiers their actions were answered with gunfire and teargas from the military. It is unclear how many deaths have taken place but it is reported that 5 people were killed yesterday and a further 9 killed today a midst the fresh clashes in Rangoon.

IUSY strongly condemns the action of the military junta to quash the peaceful protests and calls upon the junta to show restraint and work towards ensuring peace. IUSY fears that a repeat of the violence in 1988, when troops opened fire on unarmed protesters, killing thousands will become a reality if the junta does not listen to calls from world leaders including China for restraint.

IUSY welcomes the prompt response from the United Nations (UN), which held an emergency meeting yesterday in New York on the occasion of the UN General Assembly to discuss the situation in Burma. IUSY is concerned that continued actions by Russia and China within the UN are blocking stronger international action in ensuring peace and democracy in Burma. However IUSY welcomes the decision by the UN to send its special envoy Ibrahim Gambari to the region, and calls on the Burmese authorities to receive him "as soon as possible".

Burma-Forgotten Nation, Forgotten People

The IUSY Students Working Group 'Burma Campaign' calls upon all of us to lobby at every level of the political process at national, regional and international level to:
1. Take all necessary measures toward a speedy restoration of democracy in Burma
2. Demand the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi
3. Call upon the Burmese authorities to end the systematic forced displacement of persons and the flow of refugees and the flow of refugees to neighbouring countries and create adequate conditions for their safe and voluntary return and complete integration, and to allow humanitarian personnel safe access to assist their return and reintegration
4. To call upon the Burmese authorities to end the continuing violations of the human rights of women, in particular forced labour, forced relocations, abuse, torture, sexual violence, exploitation and abuse in detention and summary executions, often committed by military personnel.

JS IN DE PVDA OUTRAGED BY CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN BURMA

Join our action for a free Burma!

For more than nine following days, monks and other Burmese citizens have been protesting against the military junta. JS in de PvdA is very impressed by the courage of all Burmese taking part in these peaceful and very powerful demonstrations which is calling for democratic change.

The last two day the Military Junta has been trying to brutally suppress the peaceful demonstrations, with lethal consequences. We welcome the response of the International Community condemning these brutalities.

It takes a very special kind of courage when people are willing to give up all they hold dear to them, for a democratic cause that they know is still very far away and on the short term very likely only offers them a one-way ticket to prison. However, this time, everybody seems to hold his or her breath, hoping for real democratic change this time.

Started by the monks, whom are perceived highly in Burma, the demonstrations are joined by more than 100.000 people. Therefore these demonstrations are the biggest since the uprising in 1988, which was brutally struck down by military junta, killing thousands of demonstrators. This we can not allow to happen this time!

Although we welcome the initiatives of the international community the need to intervene and help demonstrators, forcing and pressuring the military junta even harder by condemning their enforcement of power, is becoming greater.

JS in de PvdA calls upon all ECOSY and IUSY member organizations to actively support the democratic movement in and for Burma. This can be done in several ways: address the situation to your party and national government or address the Burmese representation in your country. Awareness is in this case very important, help us raise it!

We have to carefully watch the ongoing demonstrations in Burma and Socialists and Social Democrats have to respond to the violence used. Like opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi inspired us to do, we have to use our freedom to promote theirs!

Please join in our common struggle for free Burma, for more information please contact Zita Schellekens: zschellekens@js.nl.

Zita Schellekens
International Secretary JS in de PvdA


Michiel Emmelkamp
President JS in de PvdA

Burmese defy army warning and March against Military Dictatorship

(IUSY Statement 25th September 2007)

Since the 15th August, protests have been sparked by actions undertaken by the ruling junta in Burma, in particular their decision to double fuel prices which have hit people hard in the impoverished nation.

On 5th September the junta injured several monks at a protest in Pakokku, apologies were not forthcoming which drew fresh protests by monks and daily marches in Burmese cities have gradually gathered in size since 18th September. On the 22nd September 1000 monks marched to the home of Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon. On the 24th September new Rangoon marches draw at least 50,000.

Several thousand monks and civilians in Burma’s main city Rangoon have defied military orders and have begun fresh anti-government protests. Earlier today lorries with loudspeakers warned residents that the protests could be ‘dispersed by military force’. The protesters have been handing out pictures of Burmese independence hero Aung San, the deceased father of Aung San Suu Kyi. They are also carrying flags, including some bearing the image of a fighting peacock used by the students during the 1988 pro-democracy uprising.

Students are also openly marching today as opposed to simply forming a chain and clapping on Monday. The junta which violently repressed the 1988 protests killing some 3000 people finally broke its silence over the mounting protests saying yesterday that it was ready to “take action” against the protesters.

IUSY calls on the military junta to avoid bloodshed and allow for dialogue on the basis of democracy to address the issues of the Burmese people that are marching on the country’s streets. Moreover IUSY strongly urges the junta to take this opportunity to launch a process of real political reform.

In the coming days at the UN General Assembly, many countries particularly the US will be putting pressure on Asian countries to tackle the mounting instability and political oppression in Burma. IUSY firmly believes that the UN can provide a framework that will aid Burma to make a transition through political reform to a real democracy.

China is one of the closest allies of the ruling junta in Burma, but so far it has not made a public comment about the protests there. But China will be concerned about two things: the stability of Burma and the image of China. A stable Burma is important for China, as it is a corridor to the Indian Ocean and also a valuable trading partner. So instability or even war in Burma is not in Chinas interest. But neither is a bloodily crackdown, because China is worried about its own image in the run up to the next years Beijing Olympic Games. IUSY calls on China to play a more proactive role in relation to the question of Burma and support a move to pressure the junta into political reform and allow for a return to democracy and social and economic development which will benefit all Burmese people.