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AKO and OBLF



STATEMENT                       

   The Overseas Burma Liberation Front (OBLF) has always maintained a
policy of non-violence and non confrontation, from the time of inception
in 1988, fallowing the pro-democracy uprising in Burma.
In implementing this policy, the OBLF has made several approaches to the
SLORC directly and indirectly in the past, appealing; to SLORC to
commence genuine dialogue with a11, political , parties both inside and
outside Burma and with ail the ethnic nationalities, for a peaceful
solution to the festering; political impasse - in the best interest of
the country and the ;people of Burma. SLORC: has entertained these
approaches without arriving at the desired solution, and it now
continues its so called case-fire negotiation and agreements with the
majority of the ethnic nationalities, expect the Karen national Union
(KNU)).
The current attempted. annihilation of the KNU by the vastly superior
force of SLORC, for not towing the line by entering into such so called
cease fire agreements, agreements which are devoid political.
settlement, is another glaring example of  SLORC?s  hypocrisy in its
dealings with the ethnic nationalities.  General Maung Aye's publicly
insulting behaviour towards the Karen people, does very little for the
"national unity" SLORC has been loudly promoting through Its controlled
media, bill boards and its henchmen in its henchmen in its Union
Solidarity and Development Association. (USDA).
The Ethnic Nationalities seminar recently held in the liberated areas is
resounding poof that the majority ethnic nationalities are united under
the banner of the National Democratic Front(NDF) and their message from
the  seminor was loud and clear On  their  fight against the "Burma for
Burmans only policy" and on their embracing of the Burmans as one of the
nationalities of Burma.  The OBLF welcomes the proposal of tripartite
dialogue under the supervision of the United 'Nations, and supports the
resolutions of the seminar.  The bold attendance by various; ethnic
nationality groups which had entered into so called peace agreements
with Si.QFtG, can; only be viewed as their acknowledgment that these
agreements are sham agreements, as SLORC has no intention of honouring
such agreements, or to enter into any dialogue with them for a peaceful
political settlements.
The latest indiscriminate and vicious onslaught an KNU positions along
the Thai-Burma border areas resulting in thousands of refugees fleeing
from their home lands, should be viewed by democracy loving nations of
the world as an immensely critical situation developing in Burma, as
SLORC is able to crush and annihilate with impunity, the last bastion of
democracy in Burma. SLORC is not faced by any deterrent, as even all the
resolutions of the United Nations have had no affect on SLORC?s
repression and its increasing human rights abuses. 'The vivid examples
of Bosnia are also ignored by them. Must the people of Burma who sought
peace
and                                                                                                                                         
democracy at the 1990 elections, continue living in poverty and immense
suffering under the yoke of SLORC?s repressive regime?. We call on all
peace loving nations to assist the people of Burma fulfil their
aspiration for peace and democracy, by working harder to achieve
tripartite dialogue, under the supervision of the United Nations.  Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi has also regularly called for dialogue, It is now time
for positive action and   not words. 
The Executive Committee
OVERSEAS BURMA LIBERATION FRONT (OBLF).
4 March, 1997.
AKO
Australia Karen Organisation

DECLARATION BY THE AUSTRALIA KAREN ORGANIZATION
regarding the recent military operations by SLORC in BURMA.

Ninety thousand Karen and other ethnic refugees have been forced to live
in camps along the Thai-Burma  border for years and years. They have
been driven out of their homeland because  of atrocities, human rights
abuse, injustices and the fire power of the mad men governing Burma for
nearly half a century.
The Karen National  Union (KNU} fought for autonomy for the Karen people
in 1949. Now they are fighting  for a genuine democratic federation with
all the other ethnic groups. It has been a long and bitter struggle. In
spite of Slander resources, difficult terrain, economic strangulation 
political treachery, the KNU has managed to survive. They have suffered 
at backs more than once mainly berceuse of misplaced trust and
hope in the insincere offers by the enemy for "peace talks" and "cease
fires,"
'The Karen people want peace, but not peace at any price,
The Karen people want PEACE that will ensure DEMOCRACY, JUSTICE AND
EQUALITY for all of Burma.
The Karen soldiers have died fighting so that Burma may be freed from
the tyranny of the Burmese military.
The people of the world cannot shut their eyes to the reality and the
sufferings of the Karen people.
The Karens are now facing annihilation, SLCORC has pitted all its might
against the KNU and in the process thousands of civilians (Wemen and
children) are forced to flee their hames to take refuge in neighbouring
Thailand which openly declares its hostility towards them.
 As many as ten thousand more villagers are being driven out as the
offensive continues. Refugees are trapped between the Thai Border Patrol
Police and the SLORC army. Relief NGO?s are not allowed  to access to
these areas.
Everyday since the massive military offensive was launched by SLORC on
the 2nd of February, we have been n receiving reports of a mass exodus
of Karens because of ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests, extra-judicial
killings, torture, looting, destruction of property and every
conceivable evil being committed by the troops under the command of
SLORC. Women are the most vulnerable in these circumstances because the
soldiers indulge in the most dastardly crime of rape and murder. It is
clear that SLORC?s intention is to completely crush and subjugate the
Karen people and to eventually wipe them off the face of the earth.

 This is GENOCIDE and the world must take notice.

WE, the Karens residing  in Australia, now call upon the Australian
people, the Australian government and the people government of the world
to intervene and avert the great disaster that is looming. 
In this information age, every single one of us can help to alert the
world about atrocities against the human race. 
SLORC is committing the heinous crime of GENOCIDE against an ethnic
nationality group - the Karens.
 SLORC must be stopped before it gains momentum and proceeds against
every nationality group in Burma. If we fail to stop them now - if they
succeed in their exploits -there will be no hope for BURMA - there will
be no hope for DEMOCRACY.
 Everyone who reads this declaration has the responsibility to alert
themselves, their
 friends, their governments, other governments, the United Nations,
religious groups.
Human Rights institutions and a1l freedom loving  people to act
effectively and appropriately against the illegitimate military junta
that is wielding authority in BURMA.


WE APPEAL TO THE WORLD COMMUNITY TO HELP US WIN THE WAR AGAINST
GENOCIDE, AND THE WAR FOR DEMOCRACY. 

CENTRAL EXCUTIVE COMMITTEE
AKO