The Statement of ABSDF (Dawn Gwin)

[caroline@xxxxxxxxxx]

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STATEMENT ON THE SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF 8-8-88 

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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 nationalities.  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 into 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 be repealed.  - 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. 



Central Committee 
Dawn Gwin Headquarters            Date.  August 8, 1995. 













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