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The Statement of ABSDF (Dawn Gwin
- Subject: The Statement of ABSDF (Dawn Gwin
- From: caroline@xxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 06 Aug 1995 21:57:00
Subject: The Statement of ABSDF (Dawn Gwin)
STATEMENT ON THE SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF 8-8-88
Today is the seventh anniversary of the proud 8-8-88 uprising during
which the people of Burma rose up to struggle for democracy. The 8-
8-88 popular democratic uprising awakened the political awareness of
the entire multi-ethnic Burmese nation; and soon, the fighting motto
of "8-8-88" became the emblem of the democratic cause. During this
uprising the students and youths, the new generation of Burma, proved
that they had truly adopted the tradition of the"Fighting Peacock,"
which has long been the symbol in Burmese history of the students
leading the fight against oppression of the people.
As a result of the 8-8-88 uprising and its aftermath, the attention of
the international community has been focused on the human rights
violations inside Burma caused by the oppressions of the military
dictatorship. One extremely important consequence of the momentum
of the democratic uprising was that the struggle for democracy and the
struggle for equal rights for all ethnic nationalities harmoniously
merged into each other with a joint aim to establish national solidarity
and long-lasting peace. The sacrifices of the thousands who gave their
lives to create the democratic revolution in Burma will never be
forgotten. Determined to remain loyal to the memory of these martyrs,
we are unswervingly determined to continue our struggle until the
objective of democracy has been achieved.
In Burma today, the objectives of the 8-8-88 uprising and the wishes of
the people have not yet been implemented. Systematic human rights
abuses remain; democracy has not yet been achieved; SLORC
continues to deny the results of the May 1990 election in which the
Burmese people voted for their own representatives in an
internationally recognized free election; and the rule of the SLORC
military dictatorship has seriously stunted the economic and social life
of the common people.
Despite the fact that the SLORC military dictatorship claims to be
pursuing a policy of non-disintegration of the union and national
solidarity, its actions tell a different story. The dictatorship applies
overwhelming military pressure against the ethnic organizations to
force them to enter cease-fire agreements while simultaneously
refusing to engage in any political discussions or consultations with
them outside of SLORC's so-called "National Convention."
Unfortunately, this body is not a "National" Convention; it is a
"Military" Convention which SLORC completely controls and which
is designed to insure that democratic and ethnic minorities play no
important role whatsoever in the writing of a so-called constitution.
The outcome of SLORC's so-called "National" Convention has already
been predetermined by the military which has issued orders to the
convention to write a constitution that will guarantee military, not
democratic, control of society and a constitution which will not
recognize equal rights for and self determination of the ethnic
Although the ASEAN countries refused to apply pressure after 8-8-88,
the rest of the international community did apply pressure on SLORC
over its continuing record of systematic human rights violations and
over its failure to honor the May 1990 elections. To try and blunt the
force of this pressure, SLORC made some token superficial moves.
These included releasing a few political prisoners (with warnings not
to engage in politics); allowing a UN Special Rapporteur limited visits
to some prisons; and allowing Aung San Suu Kyi, while under house
arrest, to meet a few people from outside. At the same time, however,
the true nature of SLORC was revealed when it launched a major
military offensive and occupied the headquarters of the Karen National
Union; when it forced civilians to act as military porters and collected
porter "fees" (bribes paid to military officers to avoid being forced
portering) all over the country; and even more recently, when it broke
the cease-fire agreement it signed with the Karenni National
Progressive Party (KNPP) and launched unprovoked attacks into the
KNPP designated areas. Then, last month, just two days before a bill
was to be introduced in the US Senate calling for imposition of
economic sanctions on the SLORC military dictatorship, SLORC once
again responded to outside international pressure and released Aung
San Suu Kyi from house arrest after illegally holding her for six years.
In reality the only route to peace, justice and development in Burma is
for all parties to come together in good faith for political dialog.
Political questions should be solved by political means. In order for a
meaningful political dialog to begin the following must occur:
- Unconditional release of all political prisoners
- Laws that restrict the basic human rights of the Burmese people must
- Human rights violations, including but not limited to forced labour
and forcing civilians to act as military porters, must be stopped.
- A nationwide ceasefire must be declared.
- The so-called "National" Convention (which is in reality a "Military"
Convention) must be dissolved.
- SLORC must initiate preliminary talks with Aung Suu San Kyi.
The ABSDF calls on the people of Burma and the international
community to join together to help achieve the objectives listed above.
With the example of the 8-8-88 uprising against oppression always
before us, and the power of the people behind us, the ABSDF calls on
the oppressed people of Burma to stand together in solidarity until
victory and democracy are in hand.
The people of Burma must be free.
Headquarters Date. August 8, 1995.