Dear Organizers, Participants of the World Movement for Democracy, ladies and Gentlemen, first of all I would like to thank to the organizer of the panel for giving me this opportunity to share with you some of my country political situation and movement for democracy in Burma.
I came from the country which has been under military rule since 1962 under the different names. Under the illegitimate military regime, Burmese people are living in fear with lack of basic human rights.
In 1988, the military brutally cracked down and killed thousand of peaceful demonstrators on the streets for their demand to restore democracy. In 1990, the military held the election with hope that they would win. After the National League for Democracy (NLD) party led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi won the election by landslide victory, they did not hand over the power to the NLD. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was put under house arrest and many of her party members were detained.
Last year, on May 30th, the military-sponsored civilian group called Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), a thug organization sponsored by the military attacked the convoy of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. In that massacre, hundreds of people were killed, beaten up and some are still in prison.
After that incident, international pressure has been mounting up and even some of their allied countries in the region were putting pressure to the military government to change a bit. The United States and the European Union broadened their sanctions against the Burmese regime. The United States congress passed the Burma Freedom Act 2003 and the President signed a decree tightening sanctions against Burma.
For that reason, the military government has come up with so-call "road map" for democracy in Burma. In late August 2003, the Burmese junta appointed powerful military intelligence Chief General Khin Nyunt as Prime Minister of the Country and launched their 7 point "road map to democracy" in Burma.
The core issue in the junta's road map is reconvening the National Convention that has been suspended in 1996 after the NLD boycotted . And they want to finalise the draft of the new constitution and go for next election. But the democracy that the military government means is the democracy that the military has dominant role in future Burma and the democracy that the military can monopolise all the economy in Burma. They proposed that the head of the State should have military experience. And they want 25% of the members of Parliament from the military.
In last December, Thailand, following the personal initiative by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, sponsored on international forum on Burma in Bangkok. Ten "like-minded" countries, including Australia, Japan, India, and China, gathered. Burmese Foreign Minister Win Aung attended the meeting and explained vaguely how his government intends to implement its seven point "road map" for democracy. Other participants at the meeting were representatives from Singapore, Italy, France, Austria, Germany, Indonesia and the UN special envoy to Burma.
Around the same time, the Burmese junta made efforts to talk with the oldest ethnic nationality armed resistance organization, the Karen National Union (KNU) and made ceasefire agreement. In the meantime, the junta has announced that it has received support from at least six ceasefire armed resistance groups of it's National Convention. One of these ceasefire groups that it refers to is the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO).
Though the military said everyone including NLD party will be invited to attend the convention, the NLD has not got any invitation. And the military regime did not say a word about when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will be released. On one hand, the military is saying to the world that they are for the democratization but on the other hand, they are still oppressing the people.
Recently 9 political activists were sentenced by the military regime death sentences. These activists were from the sport magazine and their crime was criticizing the corruption of the sport authority. Currently these are about 1500 political prisoners in several jails in Burma.
Resistance movement is still alive in Burma. Our heroes are still struggling inside jails, jungle and on the streets inside Burma. Political activists including NLD members inside Burma are in good spirit and resisting in whatever in their capacity. For example, some writers and artists gathered in Burma informally to discuss the prevailing situation and plan how they could influence change. Young students and activists would gather in one of their houses where they kept banned books available as their own library, and there are many more cases of such actions.
Outside the country, exile Burmese activists like us are trying to work for the political change in Burma. There are several organizations like, students organisations, women organizations, Member of Parliament, exile government, Trade Unions, media organizations, political parties, ethnic nationalities organizations are working in their respected fields.
We try to support the families of the political prisoners. We try to promote awareness among the people of the county wherever we live in and try to get support and solidarity for our movement. We try to advocate for democratic changes in Burma. Attending the UN and international meetings including UNCHR sessions and lobby the governments to support the resolutions on Burma. We try to build network with civil society groups in other counties. We try to investigate and report the human rights violations to the international human rights organisations. We try to send messages and news on what we are doing to inside Burma through every possible ways, including international radio station. We try to organise capacity-building program for activists including women and youth. We also try to learn from other countries' experiences to reflect on our own situation.
So far after 15 years since 1988, our democratic struggle in Burma is still alive and kicking. It would not have been possible without international solidarity and support. We all know that the military regime can not be trusted and it will not easily give up power. However we also know that the regime is facing tremendous pressure both within and outside the country. The economic situation in Burma is deteriorating with the economic assets of the regime and its associates being badly affected due primarily to the strong US economic sanctions brought down late in 2003.
So there is a hope that if the neighboring countries of Burma don't betray the aspiration of the people of Burma to get democracy, we can be on the winning ground because they stopped demanding for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi after the Bangkok process. And our neighboring countries like Thailand, China and India are trying to exploit the business opportunity in Burma.
So I request all of you at the world Movement for Democracy to continue your support and solidarity with people of Burma. I urge you especially to keep asking your own governments to put pressure on the Burmese military regime to create the transitional environment conducive to democratic changes, to release all political prisoners, to announce nationwide ceasefire, to have meaningful dialogue with the NLD and leaders of the ethnic nationalities to bring about genuine democracy in Burma. International pressure and sanctions help us and hit the regime hard.
Thank you very much.
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