ABBESU STATEMENT ON THE SEVENTH_ANN

[lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: ABBESU STATEMENT ON THE SEVENTH_ANNIVERSARY OF THE BLOODY SUPPRESSION OF DEMOCRACY UPRISING ON 18.9.88 BY THE SLORC

__________________________________________________________________________
           ALL BURMA BASIC EDUCATION STUDENTS' UNION(Thailand)
__________________________________________________________________________
                                    
     Statement on the Seventh-anniversary of the bloody suppression
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             of  democracy uprising on 18.9.88 by the SLORC
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         

     Today, September 18, 1995, is the seventh anniversary of the day when the
peaceful demonstration for the restoration of democracy in Burma was ruthlessly
crushed by the Ne Win's military under the name of State Law and Order
Restoration Council(SLORC), announcing a military coup d'etat and brutally killing
thousands of unarmed people. It is unforgettable for the people of Burma as a bloody
historical event.   

     In 1962, the military junta led by Gen. Ne Win had also staged a coup d'etat,
under the name of Revolutionary Council, against the first and only elective
democratic government of Burma led by Premier U Nu. Then, the military
established the Burmese Socialist Program Party(BSPP) and ruled the country for 26
years under one-party dictatorial system, committing human right abuses.

     People of Burma walked into the streets, starting on August 8, 1988, and asked
for the restoration of democracy in Burma and dissolution of the BSPP and, as they
can be no more tolerable to the oppression by the military-run BSPP which
mismanaged the resources-rich country to the least developed country. The military
junta led by Gen. Ne Win attempted different ruthless ways to crack down the
nationwide general uprising and continue to firmly grip the state power.

     After brutally crushing the peaceful demonstration on September 18,  1988,
Senior Gen Saw Maung, then Chairman of the SLORC promised that the military
will hold an election and transfer state power to the elected representatives of 1990
May General elections, but the military did not honour the election results, refusing
to transfer the power to the National League for Democracy party (NLD) which won
over 80 percent of votes and arresting the elected MPs.

     1990 Nobel Peace Laureate and national leader of Burma Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi was released on July 10, 1995, as it is impossible for the SLORC to continue the
detention of her, even in accordance with the unjust laws of them. Other political
prisoners are still detained in the different prisons in Burma. 

     The SLORC has not yet scheduled a time-frame for the genuine dialogue with
democratic forces led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic forces for the sake of the
country, but rather attempting to hold their sham national convention to continue to
firmly grip their military power.

     The ABBESU strongly denounces the SLORC who is preparing to continue to
oppress the people of Burma, having longlives the military dictatorship in Burma.

     The ABBESU demands the SLORC:
     1. To unconditionally release the political prisoners in Burma including        
            prominent student leader Min Ko Naing.
     2. To abolish the SLORC's sham National Convention.
     3. To cancel all of SLORC's unjust laws.
     4. To immediately start a genuine dialogue with democratic forces led by Daw  
                 Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic leaders.


Central  Committee, ABBESU(Thailand)                     Date: September 18, 1995